Cowboys enter second pre-season game with a few bumps and bruises
The Dallas Cowboys are in no rush to play their second preseason game on Thursday against the Oakland Raiders. Although they left Canton, Ohio, with a 16-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in their first match, it was a costly victory.
Players on both side of the ball left the exhibition with a few bumps and bruises, a sign that the guys haven’t been tackling for a long time and that they are not all in tip-top football shape just yet. But the Cowboys got devastating news following Sunday’s Hall of Fame game, when they learned that tight end John Phillips tore his ACL in the second quarter of Sunday's game and will miss the entire 2010 season.
“It's disappointing because he was having such a great camp and such a great game," tight ends coach John Garrett said after Sunday night's preseason win. "But I know one thing: He's got great resolve. He's got great perseverance. If there's anybody going to come back even stronger than he was before, it'll be John Phillips."
His backup Scott Sicko did not make it to the final whistle either and suffered a concussion after a brief appearance. With the loss of both tight ends, the Cowboys are thin at this position. Head coach Wade Phillips said: “We're particularly down tight-end wise. We're going to have to pick up some tight ends.”
The starter Jason Witten will see minimal playing time this preseason, as coaches need him to be healthy when it counts. The Cowboys might play their offensive starters a little longer considering that this is their second preseason game. Tony Romo, Roy Williams and Patrick Clayton may start for half of the first quarter but nothing more.
The new-look Oakland offence with Jason Campbell at the helm for the Raiders will see its first preseason game. But many of its players won’t. Oakland’s running back Darren McFadden will miss the preseason opener due to a left hamstring injury.
McFadden, the fourth overall draft pick in 2008, isn’t the only one who will be watching from the bench. Receivers Chaz Schilens, Jacoby Ford and Paul Hubbard will not see action on Thursday, nor will backup quarterbacks Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye. Head coach Tom Cable should fear for his newly acquired quarterback,considering the fact that the Raiders’ wide receivers are sketchy at best, and now three of them will be out of Thursday’s contest.
It will be important for Campbell to get off to a good start for his confidence standpoint. The main concern for Campbell is that his offensive line have not shown the ability to protect the quarterback and they do not have a ton of experience playing together. He had this problem playing in Washington.
The Redskins’ offensive unit did not muster much firepower last season and it will be important for Campbell to play well, and that his new team also delivers in the preseason, for everyone to keep positive energy within the team and carry that momentum into the regular season. This exhibition game against the Cowboys is vital for the Raiders.
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