Maliek Collins' injury came at right and wrong time for Cowboys
12:12 PM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas – A protective boot was spotted next to Maliek Collins' locker on Wednesday, an ode to the surgery he had last week on his broken right foot.
There are two ways to look Collins’ injury. The timing of it is right because he should be back by the time the regular season begins, or the time off will increase the difficulty in picking up what the Dallas Cowboys want him to do.
Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli likes both views.
“It does set you back, but if it had to happen at a certain time, it’s better it happened now,” Marinelli said. “He’s s hard-nosed guy, good attitude with him. He’s tough. He’ll bounce back fast I think.”
Collins is looking at a 10- to 12-week recovery period. He suffered the same break Dez Bryant had last season.
In the last two years, the Cowboys have seen injuries take away what they had hoped would be big-time contributors to their defensive line as rookies. In 2014, DeMarcus Lawrence suffered a broken foot in training camp and missed the first seven regular season games. In 2015, Randy Gregory suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener and missed a month.
Neither had a sack in the regular season as a rookie.
After selecting Collins in the third round they expressed the possibility of moving Tyrone Crawford to defensive end with the suspension to Gregory and looming penalty that faces Lawrence. Crawford has not taken any snaps at end so far in the offseason, but that could change in camp.
Marinelli likes what he has on the interior in Tyrone Crawford, Cedric Thornton, Terrell McClain and Jack Crawford. Undrafted rookie Rodney Coe also has drawn praise.
At the moment, the Cowboys don’t plan on looking for added help on the defensive line.
“We have a lot of defensive linemen on our team right now, so it gives some of the younger guys and even the veteran guys more snaps,” coach Jason Garrett said. “Maliek was doing well for us. He was off to a good start. We do anticipate him being back healthy and ready to go.”