OXNARD, Calif. — Jaishawn Barham is moving closer to a return for the Dallas Cowboys after missing more than a week with a groin injury.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that Barham will begin doing more. Dallas has not decided whether the rookie linebacker will play Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks.
“Barham will start to move around a little bit more,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s close, but you know, we’ll see if he’ll be able to make it for the game.”
Barham left practice Aug. 6 after spending several minutes in the medical tent. He returned to the sideline in street clothes and was still out when Dallas practiced again Aug. 8.
Jaishawn Barham Had Been Taking First-Team Reps
Dallas drafted Barham at No. 92 overall in April. The Cowboys got that pick from the San Francisco 49ers in the trade that sent Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco.
He signed May 1 and has worn No. 55 during camp.
Before the groin injury, Barham had worked with the first-team defense alongside Dee Winters.
The Cowboys have lined Barham up at inside linebacker after he spent much of last season on the edge at Michigan. He started the year off the ball, then moved outside in Week 3.
Of Barham’s 397 defensive snaps last season, 56 came at linebacker. Most of that work came early, with 39 linebacker snaps over Michigan’s first two games.
In 12 games for Michigan last season, Barham made 11 starts and recorded 32 tackles. He had 10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 pass breakups and a forced fumble.
He started all 13 games the year before and had 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.
Before Michigan, Barham played two seasons at Maryland. He finished his time there with 95 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks in 23 games.
Barham also earned Freshman All-American honors in 2022 and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection three times.
Dallas Cowboys Have More Decisions Coming At Linebacker
Barham works under inside linebackers coach Scott Symons. Dallas also has DeMarvion Overshown, Winters, Shemar James, Curtis Robinson, Justin Barron and Langston Patterson in the room.
Dallas traded a fifth-round pick to San Francisco for Winters during the draft.
The defense is in its first season under Christian Parker, who was hired Jan. 22 after Matt Eberflus was fired. Parker spent the previous two seasons in Philadelphia as defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator.
He is Dallas’ fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons.
Last year, the Cowboys allowed 30.1 points and 377.0 yards per game. The 511 points allowed were the most in franchise history.
Schottenheimer had several injury updates Thursday. Rookie cornerback Devin Moore was set to work back into practice, while defensive back Zion Childress and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard were also progressing.
“Childress, Barham and Bullard are all doing well, progressing,” Schottenheimer said. “Zion’s actually ahead of schedule.”
Dallas has three preseason games before it has to cut the roster to 53 players. The Cowboys play at Seattle on Saturday, visit the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 22, and host the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 28.
The Cowboys practice Friday at 1:45 p.m. CT before leaving Oxnard. Saturday’s game at Lumen Field starts at 7 p.m. CT on CBS.
