It’s rare for any team to make it through training camp completely unscathed and the Dallas Cowboys are no different. Sean Lee has already suffered an MCL sprain and Zack Martin had to leave practice early because of spasms in his back. After practice, he had an MRI to rule out any serious damage. Per a report from Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan, the MRI was negative, revealing no serious back issues.
Zack Martin had been a picture of health until last season when he began dealing with an issue in his left knee. It led to Martin missing games for the first time in his storied career. Now it’s likely that Martin will miss some practice time as the Dallas Cowboys manage his workload and take precautions with his back, but they caught a break with the news that there’s no serious damage to Martin’s back.
As we’ve seen with Tyron Smith, back issues can persist even when treated well.
The Dallas Cowboys offensive line absolutely needs Zack Martin at 100% if the offense is going to click as we all hope they will. Without Travis Frederick at center and with a not quite ready Connor Williams at left guard, the Dallas Cowboys weren’t as efficient in the running game as they’d been in previous seasons.
Now with Travis Frederick working his way back and Connor Williams in his second season, the Dallas Cowboys offense looks to have their offensive line starters together for the first time in a year. If they can keep Zack Martin healthy, they should see their offensive efficiency return to the top of the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys are wise to take this report and be cautious with Martin moving forward. Martin is the best guard in the NFL and one of the best players in the league regardless of position. That kind of talent isn’t so easily replaced. How the Cowboys manage his practice time will be an important story to follow for the rest of training camp.
Keeping Zack Martin at or near 100% for the 2019 season is a huge key for the Dallas Cowboys to make a run at the postseason and hopefully the Super Bowl.
