OXNARD, Calif. – More tests Monday confirmed a fractured right foot for wide receiver James Washington, who is expected to miss 6 to 10 weeks with a fractured fifth metatarsal.
Washington will return to Dallas for surgery to repair the fracture.
He left Monday’s practice on a medical cart after landing awkwardly on a jump play against cornerback Trevon Diggs in 7-on-7 drills. He had trouble putting weight on the injured foot before leaving the field on the cart.
The Cowboys have seen different timeframes for these types of injuries in the past. Former wide receiver Dez Bryant had surgery in 2015 and missed six weeks. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence had surgery last September and missed 10 weeks. So it’s a tentative schedule for Washington.
One thing is certain: The injury further complicates the Cowboys’ depth chart at wide receiver. CeeDee Lamb is off to a strong start as the new No. 1 pick replaces Amari Cooper (Browns), but the rest of the rotation looks shaky.
Starter Michael Gallup said last week that he did not expect to return from ACL surgery in February in time for the Sept. 11 season opener. The Cowboys are excited about rookie Jalen Tolbert, but the third-round pick is obviously inexperienced.
Washington, drafted by the Steelers in the second round in 2017, recorded 114 catches for 1,629 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons, but never consistently cracked Pittsburgh’s starting lineup. The Texas native signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys in March and entered camp with his best shot at earning a starting job.
While Washington is out, more responsibility could fall to sixth-year veteran Noah Brown, one of the most consistent receivers through the first week of camp. The Cowboys could also look for outside free agent help, though that’s more speculation than fact given their surplus of salary cap space (over $20 million).