Getty Dallas Cowboys Amari Cooper and Dak Prescott
The Dallas Cowboys finished practice without dynamic wide receiver Amari Cooper as he left with an apparent heel bruise injury which occurred during warmups. He reportedly left today’s training camp session in Oxnard, CA and went inside before returning to the field. However, he did not return to practice and his status for the team’s next practice is currently unknown.
Dallas Cowboys’ staff writer David Helman reported the news on Twitter but revealed Cooper didn’t need assistance getting off the field.
Amari Cooper left practice right after the stretch period with a heel bruise. Didn’t look like a huge deal, he didn’t need any assistance or anything like that. But he’s not out here right now #cowboyswire
Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins also revealed a photo of Cooper watching practice from the sidelines.
Amari Cooper will miss practice today.
Amari Cooper Expected to Miss Scrimmage
The Cowboys are slated to hold a scrimmage on Sunday, but it appears unlikely that Cooper will suit up. Adithya Prabakaran of Cowboys Wire stated as much, revealing that he’s not expected to play.
“As the Cowboys are being cautious with Cooper’s injury, he’s not be expected to play in the Sunday’s Blue and White scrimmage. That does not automatically exclude the fifth-year wideout from the club’s first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.”
In Cooper and Randall Cobb’s absences, Tavon Austin and Reggie Davis worked with Michael Gallup in the first 11 personnel group, according to ESPN NFL Nation reporter Todd Archer.
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Amari Cooper’s Contract
As reported by NFL insider Ed Werder, owner Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Amari Cooper’s agent Joel Segal met for dinner on Monday night. Segal was also seen at practice meeting with Cooper, Jones and other players he works with, by ESPN NFL Nation reporter Todd Archer:
That’s Jerry Jones after a quick talk with Amari Cooper and the receiver’s agent, Joel Segal, who was visiting camp. More contract talks are planned but nothing is imminent on extension.
Cooper appears to be letting the market settle itself out with the contracts of Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs wideout’s Julio Jones and Tyreek Hill still up in the air.
New Orleans Saints’ Michael Thomas locked down a massive $100 million deal this week and set the bar very high for the Cowboys and Cooper.
Amari Cooper’s NFL Career
Entering year No. 5 in the league, Cooper will be taking part in his first full season with the Cowboys. He was brought over from the Oakland Raiders in the middle of last season. Cooper had 22 receptions for 280 yards and one touchdown with the Raiders before hauling in 725 yards and six touchdowns with the Cowboys. His 1,000-plus yard season included some clutch plays down the stretch.
He was drafted out of Alabama with the No. 4 overall pick by the Raiders in 2015. As a three-time Pro-Bowler, Cooper has had only one season with under 1,000 yards receiving, which came in 2017.
Cooper will look to build his chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott as the duo gets more practice time together. His production skyrocketed when he moved to Dallas. He had better numbers in just a chunk of the season with the Cowboys than many receivers had all year.
A full year in the new offense could pay dividends for the team. Dallas has lacked a consistent deep threat like Cooper in previous years but has since rectified that issue with his addition. Cooper is tremendously talented and has proven reliable thus far in Dallas.
He has emerged as one of Dak’s safety blankets in big situations. The return of retired tight end Jason Witten as a target will help ease the defensive pressure on Cooper which could give him more man coverage in 2019.
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