November, 26, 2012
By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- The revelation from Cowboys coach Jason Garrett on Monday that slot cornerback Orlando Scandrick will miss a few weeks as he recovers from hand surgery means Mike Jenkins gets more playing time.
Jenkins is mainly an outside corner, but he'll see some time in the slot with Scandrick out. Jenkins has battled some health issues this season. He had some scar tissue flair up on his surgically repaired shoulder and he missed a game due to back spasms.
"He hasn't played that much inside," Garrett said "He's played more outside, his role on this football team is he has to be able to play as an outside corner and as a inside guy. So it was more of an extended playing time in that spot than he's had in the past. He's a good football player he just has to get comfortable playing in there."
But Jenkins isn't the only player who could move to the slot. Brandon Carr, who has shown a versatility this season by playing free safety, can also move to the slot if necessary.
It appears rookie corner Morris Claiborne will stay on the outside.
"Don't want to make any determinations now but he's certainly has as much experience as anybody on our roster playing in there," Garrett said of Jenkins. "We've played him in there in some defensive packages up to this point when everybody has been healthy because of the type of player we think he is. He's been out a couple of weeks. He's healthy now, so he'll certainly have a role on the defense."
By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- The revelation from Cowboys coach Jason Garrett on Monday that slot cornerback Orlando Scandrick will miss a few weeks as he recovers from hand surgery means Mike Jenkins gets more playing time.
Jenkins is mainly an outside corner, but he'll see some time in the slot with Scandrick out. Jenkins has battled some health issues this season. He had some scar tissue flair up on his surgically repaired shoulder and he missed a game due to back spasms.
"He hasn't played that much inside," Garrett said "He's played more outside, his role on this football team is he has to be able to play as an outside corner and as a inside guy. So it was more of an extended playing time in that spot than he's had in the past. He's a good football player he just has to get comfortable playing in there."
But Jenkins isn't the only player who could move to the slot. Brandon Carr, who has shown a versatility this season by playing free safety, can also move to the slot if necessary.
It appears rookie corner Morris Claiborne will stay on the outside.
"Don't want to make any determinations now but he's certainly has as much experience as anybody on our roster playing in there," Garrett said of Jenkins. "We've played him in there in some defensive packages up to this point when everybody has been healthy because of the type of player we think he is. He's been out a couple of weeks. He's healthy now, so he'll certainly have a role on the defense."
