Dallas Cowboys: Rounding Up Latest Buzz from Training Camp

The Dallas Cowboys are two weeks into training camp and are about to play the first preseason game on Thursday.

The Cowboys have had a newsworthy camp so far, as multiple young players have missed time with injury and the team is adjusting to a much different roster than they had in 2016. 

Dallas is also juggling new players on their offensive line as well as trying to find out if they have anyone who can get to the quarterback this season.

If you are interested in more news and rumors like this, here are the latest rumors and buzz coming out of training camp in Oxnard, California.

Rod Smith Beating out Alfred Morris?

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ESPN's Todd Archer reported on July 27 that Rod Smith has been practicing over veteran Alfred Morris.

That's new, as last year Smith was on and off the roster all season while Morris was locked into the No. 2 running back position. Despite being wildly unsuccessful, the Cowboys seemed destined to head into the year with Morris being the team's third running back. 

And with a possible suspension looming for Ezekiel Elliott, that role could become even more valuable if he were to miss significant time. The No. 3 running back could see a significant bump in touches as Darren McFadden is the only other running back ahead of the two. 

If Smith did beat out Morris for the job, it would give the Cowboys more flexibility on game days.

Smith has experience playing fullback and is a good receiver out of the backfield. He also can play on special teams, which will pay dividends in itself when the games begin. 

While the job isn't locked up for Smith, it is a battle worth watching into camp.

Injuries

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Much like the rest of the NFL, the Cowboys are dealing with bumps and bruises in camp. Luckily for the team, none are season-ending or figure to be long-term problems, but they have taken away quite a bit of talent from their roster so far in practice. 

Rookies Jourdan Lewis and Ryan Switzer are both expected to miss the team's opening preseason game on Thursday with hamstring injuries. Both are considered "day-to-day" and could return in the next week or so. 

Fighting for a starting job, offensive lineman Chaz Green sustained a shoulder injury that could see him miss up to two weeks. While the injury is not considered serious, it could impact his ability to win the left guard job. Veteran Jonathan Cooper will have the next two weeks of practices to show why he's a more reliable option. 

Defensive linemen Maliek Collins and David Irving have each missed time due to smaller injuries but should be back by the end of the week.

It's a long injury report, but if this were the season, all players would be expected to play. It's not ideal for so many key contributors to miss practice, but in the grand scheme of things it shouldn't impact their season in any way.

Jaylon Smith's Nerve 80 Percent Regenerated?

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

According to MMQB's Peter King, Jaylon Smith's nerve in his foot is "80 percent regenerated."

While that's big and exciting news for the Cowboys, the real reason to be delighted is that Smith is on the field and practicing in pads. He was given the day off on Tuesday but practiced in pads for two straight days and has continued to impress in training camp. 

It's clear he's moving better, but there is still a lot of rust that needs to be shaken off before he can contribute to the team.

In fairness to him, it's been over 500 days since he was on the field practicing in pads prior to training camp. With each and every practice, he's getting closer to justifying the second-round pick the team spent on him in 2016. 

Brice Butler Breakout Season?

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Brice Butler is in his third year with the Cowboys, and things may have finally clicked for the former seventh-round pick by Oakland.

Former NFL scout and current writer for the Dallas Cowboys' team site Bryan Broaddus noted that Butler has improved his route running and finish on routes. 

Could this be the season that Butler takes the next step and becomes a weapon for the Cowboys' offense? Could he challenge Terrance Williams for snaps on the outside? Maybe. He might be the fastest receiver on offense and there is certainly no doubt about his physical talent. 

However, I'm not as optimistic about a potential breakout season for Butler. He's always been an interesting talent who can dominate practices and even shine in games for brief moments, but he's never been able to put it together for a full season. 

In fact, Butler hasn't had a single season in his college or NFL career in which he totaled more than 400 receiving yards. In his last eight seasons of playing football, he has only scored 12 touchdowns.

It's clear he has the size and speed to dominate in the NFL, but I'm skeptical that he will have his breakout season at the age of 27.

Rico Gathers Falling Behind?

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A few weeks ago, I predicted that Rico Gathers could be a potential cut by the end of the preseason. While his talent and upside are massive, there is still a massive learning curve ahead of him.

To make matters worse, he has struggled with his temper a few times in minicamps and training camp, forcing the coaches to sit him for periods of time during drills and practice.  

While Gathers believes he's a "thousand times better this season," the fact remains he's fourth on the team depth chart at tight end. If the Cowboys need to keep an extra offensive or defensive linemen, for example, it would be hard to justify keeping a fourth tight end, who likely won't be active on game days, on the roster. 

For Gathers to take the next step and secure a spot on the roster, he's going to need to have a big preseason. In 2016, it was clear the team tried to hide him as he only played in their final game.

Gathers only caught one pass in the preseason last year and played sparingly. Expect to see him much more this preseason as he auditions for a job on the team's active roster. 

Byron Jones Taking the Next Step?

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Byron Jones is entering his third season, and many are wondering if this is the year when he takes that next step in terms of where he ranks among safeties in the NFL.

Jones has been incredibly consistent, playing in every game for the team over the past two seasons, but he has created just one turnover. 

In camp, however, Jones has been all over the field, creating turnovers seemingly at will. He has been using tennis balls and tracking baseballs in the offseason to help his hand-eye coordination.

He has become more of a leader for the Cowboys and their defense, but can he turn that confidence and off-field training into more production in 2017? We will soon find out.