Last week, Cowboys rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne said that he hoped to be fully recovered from his wrist injury in time to fully participate in the team’s June minicamp.
Claiborne got the cast off his wrist on Tuesday, but will be wearing a removable brace for the next two weeks before starting therapy. That won’t give him much time to get ready for the June 12th start of minicamp, which may be why he downgraded his own timetable for going full speed on the practice field. Claiborne told Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News that he is now aiming to be ready for the start of training camp.
“I don’t like it but I know it’s what’s best for me and in the long run what’s best for the team,” Claiborne said. “I’m not trying to rush it. I’m just going to take my time and do what the trainers have me doing in the mean time.”
The shift in Claiborne’s return date, one that was predicted even as Claiborne was saying he’d be ready to roll in June, shouldn’t do much to hurt his chances of claiming a starting spot this season. The Cowboys knew Claiborne would need some time to heal from the torn wrist ligaments when they drafted him and he’s still doing conditioning with the team while familiarizing himself with the defensive scheme.
It also makes it even clearer why the Cowboys aren’t in any rush to trade Mike Jenkins. Until Claiborne shows that he’s back to 100 percent, there’s little reason for Dallas to make a deal with their 2011 starter.