The Cowboys were back out at Ford Center on Thursday for their second week of OTA practices.
Here are some of the notes coming out of The Star on Thursday:
*For the second consecutive week, the Cowboys’ first team offensive line was made up of Tyler Smith at left tackle, Matt Farniok at left guard, Tyler Biadasz at center, Josh Ball at right guard, and Tyron Smith at right tackle.
Zack Martin and Terence Steele missed practice again on Thursday, although Steele was seen doing rehab work outside the facility.
While the majority of Ball’s reps came as the first team right guard, he also took reps at right tackle. Matt Waletzko rotated in for Tyron Smith at right tackle, but also took a few snaps at left guard.
*Rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who worked with the first team last week, was with the second team as a spectator for most of the day. Schoonmaker was a bit hobbled at the end of last week’s practice, and it appeared he was still nursing it today. He did catch a few passes on the jugs machine away from the rest of the team.
It was a bit of a tough day for the Cowboys’ second-year tight end duo, Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot.
Dak Prescott was looking for Ferguson on a rollout, but had to go elsewhere with the ball after Prescott felt like his tight end had failed to position for the ball. Prescott gave some emphatic instruction to Ferguson, demonstrating how he expected Ferguson to turn back to the ball.
A couple of plays later, Prescott put a touchdown right on Hendershot’s hands, only for Hendershot to bobble the throw, and tip it into the arms of rookie cornerback Eric Scott.
*Speaking of Scott, he was the lone rookie working with the veteran group during team period at practice. The Cowboys were without corners Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, Nahshon Wright, and Jourdan Lewis on Thursday, and the lack of bodies gave Scott an opportunity to practice with the first team.
Even with depth issues at corner, third-year corner Kelvin Joseph spent the entirety of the team period working with the second-team on the other side of the field.
*Tony Pollard, who practiced last week, was relegated to spectator status today. Pollard arrived on the field late in practice, and participated only in mental reps with the running back group.
Pollard told reporters after practice that he’s ahead of schedule in his rehab, and that he’s running and cutting at full speed.
With Pollard absent, it was Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle working with the first-team, and Ronald Jones spending a second practice in a row with the second-team group.
*CeeDee Lamb’s contract extension is one of the fast-approaching financial decisions looming large for the Cowboys, but Lamb doesn’t seem very concerned.
Lamb acknowledged the dollar figure is something he wants to make sure is right, but said he’s completely focused on football, and that his contract isn’t something that he thinks about on a daily basis.
Lamb seemed particularly upbeat when speaking with reporters after practice, and said he’s ready to play football right now, even though the season is still several months away.
