Dallas Cowboys Morris Claiborne will not miss offseason activities
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne (24) at training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne desperately needs to prove that he isn’t a first-round bust, and the talented CB out of LSU also needs to give the Cowboys a legitimate starting tandem to bookend veteran Brandon Carr. Claiborne’s on-field struggles are probably more disappointing than his struggles to stay healthy, but the injury issues are also definitely discouraging. He missed six games last season and played through a nagging shoulder injury for essentially the entire season.
Claiborne needed surgery on his shoulder and finger this offseason, but both seem to be minor. Per a source close to ESPN Dallas’s Todd Archer, Claiborne’s injuries will not cause him to miss any offseason activities, which is excellent news for the Cowboys. They need him healthy for every practice rep and workout possible, because the 24-year-old definitely needs to improve heading into his critical third season in the league. Conditioning is important for him, but just as important will be a focus on improved technique so that he isn’t burned as often.
In ten games last season, Claiborne recorded 26 tackles, one interception, and six passes defended. As a rookie, he had eight passes defended, 55 tackles, and a pick in 15 games. But more importantly, he allowed 16.6 yards per reception this past season with a QB Rating over 90 and had a 107.8 QB Rating allowed as a rookie, per the Pro Football Focus.