In 2016, the Dallas Cowboys welcomed back Orlando Scandrick from injury and looked forward to shoring up their defensive backfield with their best cornerback. However, Scandrick was clearly not 100 percent through the season and it was clear he was not completely back to form after surgically repairing his right knee. The good news for the Cowboys in 2017 is that Scandrick told ESPN that he feels like himself again and is ready to compete. This is great news since the Cowboys lost two of their top cornerbacks this offseason to free agency.
Orlando Scandrick’s injury and recovery
The Orlando Scandrick injury in question happened back in 2015 when he tore his ACL and MCL in his right knee and missed the 2015 NFL season. When he returned in 2016, the Dallas Cowboys hoped for the best but they brought him back slowly and both Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne seemed more in tune with the defensive needs than Scandrick through the season. Orlando only played in 12 games and finished with only 46 tackles, although he did grab one interception.
According to Orlando Scandrick, the most difficult thing for him is to look at it from a “cerebral” aspect. He said that it is all about being more confident and calm. Scandrick said that the most important thing is that he is not sitting there worrying about getting hurt again and it is helping him practice with the Cowboys like he did before.
Orlando said he is more comfortable with people getting near his feet and is back to who he was before the injury.
The 2017 cornerback situation
The Dallas Cowboys look very different when it comes to their 2017 cornerback situation. Last year, Orlando Scandrick was returning from injury while Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne held down the fort.
Rookie Anthony Brown also carved out more of a role on the defense. However, Claiborne now plays for the New York Jets and Brandon Carr is with the Baltimore Ravens. That leaves Scandrick and second-year player Brown as the only holdovers.
However, Orlando Scandrick has five new teammates vying for the starting and reserve roles alongside them.
The biggest addition for the Dallas Cowboys was Nolan Carroll from the Philadelphia Eagles, who will probably step into the shoes left by Brandon Carr. Brown might get the Claiborne role but he will have to beat out three rookie draft picks in Chidobe Awuzie (2nd round from Colorado), Jourdan Lewis (third round from Michigan), and Marquez White (sixth round from Florida State).
