‘The Best Ability Is Availability’: Cobie Durant Returns To Dallas Cowboys Practice After Missing 4 Games With Hamstring Injury

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Cobie Durant returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis after missing four games with a hamstring injury, and said there is nothing he cannot do physically as Dallas prepares for Monday night’s game at Philadelphia.

Durant hurt the hamstring in Dallas’ 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders in Week 2. He signed with the Cowboys this offseason after four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said before practice that Durant should get some work.

“I’m feeling great, man,” Durant said. “I’m a little limited right now, so I’m just taking it one day at a time and staying on top of this hamstring thing because it’s tricky. And just being available. That’s the best thing about this business. The best ability is availability.”

Hamstrings have hit the Cowboys repeatedly this season. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown missed five games with one before returning to full practice Thursday, and safety Alijah Clark and offensive tackle Drew Shelton were both listed with hamstring injuries on Thursday’s report.

“I can do anything, honestly,” Durant explained. “I’m just being smart about it.”

Cobie Durant On Watching The Dallas Cowboys’ Secondary From The Sideline

Durant watched the last four games from the sideline. Rookie safety Caleb Downs was among the players who took snaps in the slot in his place. Offenses get paid too, in Durant’s view, and big plays against the secondary have to be put away quickly.

“Things happen, man. It’s the NFL,” Durant said. “They get paid the same way we get paid on defense. Offense get paid, we get paid. So control the controllables. And when things happen, man, you just got to put it behind you and go to the next play.”

Durant On Takeaways And Joey Porter Jr.

Dallas was the last team in the NFL without an interception until linebacker Dee Winters picked off Jordan Love in the 23-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 18. The Cowboys traded for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. on Oct. 1, sending a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to Pittsburgh.

Punching at the ball is part of the job for the secondary, according to Durant, and so is getting the ball back to Dak Prescott.

“Just creating takeaways, man, getting the ball back to Dak Prescott. Great offense here and that’s our main thing, man,” Durant said. “We just got to create more turnovers, punching at the ball, interceptions, any way we can create a turnover and get the ball back to Dak and let the offense do what they do. Man, we’ll be all right.”

Durant believes takeaways come in bunches once a defense gets the first one. Dallas has 1 interception through six games.

“I’m a defensive guy, so I say yeah,” Durant said.

The Philadelphia Eagles will start Tanner McKee at quarterback for the second straight week. Kickoff Monday at Lincoln Financial Field is set for 7:15 p.m. CT on ESPN and ABC.