Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been promising that help is “on the way” for the league’s worst defense. At the same time, the team could also stand to bolster its pass-catching depth behind George Pickens, with CeeDee Lamb and now even KaVontae Turpin banged up.
The club will open the 21-day practice windows for cornerback Caelen Carson and wide receiver Jonathan Mingo, it was announced Wednesday afternoon. Both have been on injured reserve since before the regular season began with knee injuries and have sat out the requisite four-game minimum.
Carson was a fifth-round draft pick in 2024 out of Wake Forest. He made six game appearances (five starts) as a rookie, struggling with a shoulder injury for most of that time. He then hyperextended a knee in training camp this summer, leading to his placement on the IR list to start the regular season.
Mingo was acquired by the Cowboys last November in a midseason trade with Carolina. The former second-round selection out of Mississippi got into the final eight games of 2024 for Dallas, starting just once and adding only modest stats on the year. He suffered a PCL sprain in August’s preseason loss to Baltimore.
Both players can begin practicing with the team immediately and can move to the active roster at any time over the next three weeks. If they are not activated within the 21-day window- a stretch that includes games against the Jets, Panthers, and Commanders- they would go back on injured reserve, ending their seasons.
“Hey, we’re not gonna force anything,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said in Wednesday’s session with the media. “We’re gonna be smart with what’s in the best interest of the players.”
The Cowboys have several other players waiting to have their practice windows opened, too, including rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., defensive end Payton Turner, running back Phil Mafah, defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey, cornerback Josh Butler, and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys open practice window for second-year CB, vet WR
Reporting by Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
