OXNARD, Calif. — It took only about 15 minutes of Thursday’s practice before the Cowboys had to break out their cart for a player.
Newly added cornerback Christian Matthew hopped into the front seat after going into the injury tent and headed off the field, sparking inquiries into what occurred. Roughly two minutes later, the cart returned with Matthew in a helmet and ready to go. He sprinted onto the field like nothing had happened.
It proved to be a false alarm — and a foreshadowing.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said that head coach Brian Schottenheimer told the team he wanted a physical practice. Schottenheimer wanted the team to lower their pad levels when they popped each other, which was something he said was missing from the joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday. Schottenheimer had even offered the team the chance to get out of full pads and change into shells midway through practice, but the team said no thanks.
Cowboys
The practice lived up to the physical hopes — arguably too much.
Thursday’s practice also featured three players leaving and not returning.
Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue hurt his ankle after defensive end Sam Williams pulled his face mask during a carry. Blue eventually returned in regular clothes to watch practice briefly.
Cowboys offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley also hurt his ankle during a play. Further tests are needed to see the severity of his injury.
And lastly, Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson left practice after he was hit in the back by linebacker Kenneth Murray. Ferguson spent time on the ground before he got up. Shortly after, he returned to the ground in evident pain before he walked off the field and didn’t return.
Ferguson, fresh off a recent contract extension, was an intended target of quarterback Dak Prescott at the goal line, but the ball was thrown behind him. Murray said it wasn’t his intention to hit Ferguson like he did.
“Down there in the red zone, everything happens fast,” said Murray, whom the Cowboys acquired in a trade from the Tennessee Titans this offseason. “Just trying to be on it quick and there’s not a lot of space; not a lot of room, not really moving backwards, moving lateral, so it’s tough.”
Murray quickly went to help up Ferguson.
“For me, it’s hard to see that happen to a teammate,” Murray said. “So just try to apologize and keep pushing.
“If it’s a guy on the other team I could care less, but for my teammate [it’s different]. Ferg is a guy that’s going to contribute a lot for this team and contribute a lot this year.”
In other injury news, the Cowboys were also without tight end Princeton Fant for the first time this training camp. He had the first reception with the starters in the joint practice against the Rams. Running back Deuce Vaughn returned to practice, but didn’t participate in team drills. Safety Junayeh Thomas also returned and was thrusted back into team drills.
Bump it: See photos from another day of Cowboys training camp in Oxnard
View Gallery
Cowboys training camp injury tracker: The latest on Trevon Diggs, Jake Ferguson and more
Dallas is already testing its depth as Tyler Guyton and Rob Jones have gone down with injuries.
Cowboys’ Micah Parsons not on practice field for first time in training camp
The star pass rusher received treatment on his back, a person familiar with the situation told The News.
Just ask Dak: Cowboys QB optimistic Micah Parsons, Jerry Jones can mend relationship
Prescott’s been through two rounds of contract talks with the Cowboys himself, so he’s confident the two sides can “move forward.”
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.