Cowboys cut mandatory minicamp short, release veterans early

For the most part, NFL mandatory minicamps are glorified practice sessions that largely feature players wearing shorts and, ideally, come and go without incident. 

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy clearly wasn’t taking any unnecessary chances this spring. 

According to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, McCarthy had the Cowboys practice Tuesday before the team held a bonding event at Topgolf on Wednesday. He then allowed veterans to leave for their summer break instead of practicing on Thursday.

Per Todd Archer of ESPN, Dallas will open training camp on July 25. 

“I think the biggest thing is you have a starting line and finish line, and I just felt like we crossed the finish line, particularly with the veterans and really today’s focus was just really spending final time with the rookies,” McCarthy explained about his decision on Thursday. “I think they had their opportunity to get their final lift in for this week, just from that, spend a bunch of individual time with the coordinators and assistant coaches and really frankly focus on the five-week plan that’s in front of them. 

“Everything we wanted to accomplish in the offseason was completed and really the focus turns to their individual five-week plan. Basically, they hit the championship conditioning, but the five weeks and what’s in front of them frankly just not only getting ready physically but emotionally and fill up their tank for what’s in front of them and mentally keep their eyes on their iPad (or Microsoft Surface, as it is).”

Last June, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan ended organized team activities early and canceled mandatory minicamp following multiple injury setbacks. As Jennifer Lee Chan noted for NBC Sports Bay Area, Shanahan cut last week’s mandatory minicamp down by one day, but quarterback and 2021 rookie Trey Lance was among those who decided to stick around for an extra week of work.