Sabin: Okoye expected to begin practicing Thursday

[Cotton]

Source: Dallas Cowboys DT Amobi Okoye expected to begin practicing Thursday
By Rainer Sabin rsabin@dallasnews.com
3:18 pm on October 21, 2014 | Permalink

Amobi Okoye is expected to practice with the Cowboys on Thursday, a source said.

The defensive tackle has been on the non-football illness list since the beginning of the season as he continued to work back into football shape following a lengthy battle with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, an autoimmune disease that left him with 145-day memory gap.

Once Okoye starts practicing with the team, the Cowboys will have 21 days to evaluate him. At the end of that period, they can activate him, cut him or keep him on the non-football illness list the remainder of the season.

Okoye, who lost 78 pounds during his lengthy battle with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, has regained the weight and looks the part of a massive defensive tackle. He was cleared in August to do contract drills, but the Cowboys wanted to proceed cautiously with Okoye after signing him to a two-year contract in May.

 

[ravidubey]

 

[Carp]

EXPLODING BRAINS!!!

 

[NoDak]

Once Okoye starts practicing with the team, the Cowboys will have 21 days to evaluate him. At the end of that period, they can activate him, cut him or keep him on the non-football illness list the remainder of the season.

I'd bet this is the route they'll take. Bring him back next offseason, and let him compete for a roster spot if there are no further complications from his illness. The guy has pedigree. If he can show something after an offseason, great. If not, oh well. We took a shot.

 

[boozeman]

Doesn't make a ton of sense. We have a good 3 technique rotation right now.

 

[Texas Ace]

Cool.

We've gotten really lucky with these castoffs and former high draft picks, so maybe this guy can bring something to the table.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Doesn't make a ton of sense. We have a good 3 technique rotation right now.

Might as well take the 21 days to look at him and then make a decision.

 

[boozeman]

Might as well take the 21 days to look at him and then make a decision.

True.

 

[Cotton]

Getting through first practice brings “mixed emotions” to Amobi Okoye

Posted by Darin Gantt on October 24, 2014, 9:42 AM EDT

It was one practice.

But for a guy who spent three months in a coma, it was a pretty big deal.

Cowboys defensive tackle Amobi Okoye went through yesterday’s practice, signaling the start of a three-week window to work before the Cowboys have to decide to activate him or leave him on the reserve/non-football injury list.

“It was good, it was worth it,” Okoye said, via Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com. “It was mixed emotions. It felt like it naturally was coming back. I’ve played six years in the league [and], it doesn’t take too long for stuff to come back to you.”

Okoye is recovering from anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a brain condition which causes memory loss and seizures. He last played in a game in 2012, and lost 78 pounds during his battle.

He said he’d talk more about his condition during the bye week in November, but he’s impressed his teammates with the work he’s already put in.

“He’s been through a lot,” linebacker Bruce Carter said. “His story is amazing. A guy like that who works real hard, I see him all the time working [with strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Woicik] one-on-one. Just to see him actually working with [us] and see it pay off is a great thing. I think he’s going to do great things for us.”

There’s still no guarantee Okoye will play this year. But after what he’s been through, simply getting through a practice is a big first step.

 

[ravidubey]

A guy like that who works real hard, I see him all the time working [with strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Woicik] one-on-one. Just to see him actually working with [us] and see it pay off is a great thing. I think he’s going to do great things for us.”

There’s still no guarantee Okoye will play this year. But after what he’s been through, simply getting through a practice is a big first step.

Rooting for this guy to make it back. He could be solid depth if he can keep his stamina.