DeMarcus Ware, Orlando Scandrick not at practice

Pierre Thomas (23) breaks away from Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware (94) during the first quarter of a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys star defensive end DeMarcus Ware came into last week’s game against the New Orleans Saints hobbled with a significant quadriceps injury, even though it seemed like Ware was fully healthy coming into the game. The Cowboys went the cautious route with Ware by giving him a few, needed weeks off (against Ware’s determined will, but it was still definitely for the better), and they probably wish they held him out of last week’s game, too. Even though it was wise to play Ware given the knowledge at the time (he seemed fully healthy, the Saints are a great team so Ware was needed), 20/20 hindsight says that it would have been better to rest Ware through the bye week.

And the bye week couldn’t have come sooner for Ware, because he aggravated his quadriceps injury on Sunday. Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett referred to it as a “tweak”, but it seemed a bit more serious of an aggravation than that. He was clearly playing through immense pain due to the injury, as there were some plays in which they normally high-motor Ware just didn’t pursue the player. Ware also wasn’t getting off blocks at his usual beastly rate, and it was evident that he either suffered a setback of some sort or simply came into the game at less than full strength.

Therefore it is unsurprising to hear that Ware is not at practice today, and there is no need for him to practice on the first day coming off of the bye. He’s always determined to get onto the field, but the Cowboys and Ware need to know that rest is easily the most important thing for him. Ware is one of the last guys who needs practice, and it’s crucial for him to take this bye week to rest.

Cornerback Orlando Scandrick is also not at practice, and ESPN Dallas’s Calvin Watkins tweets that the Cowboys have excused Scandrick from practice today due to a personal matter. Hopefully it’s nothing serious and all is well for Scandrick going forward, because you hate to see players miss practice due to a personal matter, which is usually something quite serious.

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