Michael Sam, the first openly gay player in the NFL, was in street clothes on the sidelines of the Dallas Cowboys-San Francisco 49ers game Sunday.
Sam is only on the Cowboys practice squad. He can practice but not play.
How soon could Sam play? Well, the Cowboys would need another defensive end on the roster and move him from the practice squad. He would also have to beat out another DE currently on the practice squad - Kenneth Boatright.
This week, owner Jerry Jones said Sam had 'a long way to go.'
'He was further along than when he was drafted,' Jones said of signing Sam. 'We had the benefit at looking at what had happened to him, or with him, there in St. Louis. He was a good teammate, and he worked hard. That's the big thing. He has a high motor and that really fits Rod Marinelli. He's a pass-rusher. He has a lot to go when he comes to working in space or a lot to go when it comes to special teams. It's hard to be just a situational pass-rusher if you can't be a special teams player, so he's got a long way to go.
'He's in a good place. The first thing for practice squad guys is by its very name it gives you practice. It allows you to practice better. That will be his primary responsibility and he'll get to be able to work and refine his skills. But it's no secret we need pass-rushers and we need some defensive linemen. We intend to use the practice squad to come and go throughout the year. We'll evaluate them, and while we're evaluating them, they'll be a good a player for us to practice against in preparation for the teams that we're playing.'
A day after facing a swarm of media, new Dallas Cowboys practice squad defensive end Michael Sam was back on the field Thursday at Valley Ranch.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said he's impressed with Sam.
'He's got quickness and movement,' Marinelli said. 'The guy is very passionate about what he's doing and I really like that about him. But now it's just developing a guy over and over every day. Now it's just starting to get the feel of how it is to really come off the ball, things that you want. The movement is good.' Marinelli said he fits the Cowboys' Tampa 2 scheme 'fine.'
'As a defensive end, you're looking for that elite speed and quickness,' Marinelli said. 'It always doesn't show early because guys get confused in what they're trying to do, and practice squad guys are working against our offense, so he doesn't get as many reps with what you want to do. It's just a process.' TOP PICKS
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