FRISCO (105.3 The Fan) - All eyes have been on the Cowboys' injured players as they continue with their second week of OTAs at The Star.
Besides quarterback Dak Prescott, the focus these two weeks has been on starting offensive lineman Tyron Smith and La'el Collins. The good news for the Cowboys is that both players entered the minicamp with a clean bill of health.
"They both look in great shape. They both have been here the whole time through phases one, two and three. They're where they need to be," Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said last week.
McCarthy followed that up by saying that they are exercising caution with both players in order for them to be "in a full-go manner come training camp."
Regardless of how much Collins and Smith do this week, both players have to be happy to be back on the field and in uniform with their teammates.
"I’m just starting to feel like myself again. I'm working overtime with treatment and physical therapy to make sure this thing's right. All the hard work is definitely paying off," Collins said after practice Thursday.
Collins went on to describe how tough it was to miss last season after he underwent hip surgery but he says he's "now pretty much doing everything."
As for the health of his teammate Dak Prescott, Collins gave glowing reviews of his quarterback.
"(Seeing him from) Day 1 to now, it's like night and day," Collins said of Prescott's recovery. "He's definitely a big-time leader. It gives me chills to think about it because he doesn't complain. Even if things bother him, he just finds a way to keep going and keep pushing. It goes a long way with guys, especially when there have been days where (we've had some tough days of rehab), but he keeps going. It just makes everybody want to keep going, especially me. When I see that guy, that's who I do it for. That's my locker mate. I'll protect him at all costs."
You can listen to Collins' entire visit with the media below.
