Cowboys return home to find more than 21,000 fans at practice

Published: Aug 10, 2010 at 04:34 PM

ARLINGTON, Texas -- No pay for fans, no pads for the Dallas Cowboys.

More than 21,000 fans attended a practice at Cowboys Stadium that was free and open to the public Tuesday night. The team had a nearly two-hour walkthrough session in shorts and helmets.

The light workload was expected since the Cowboys play their second preseason game in a five-day span Thursday night, at home against the Oakland Raiders. The Cowboys have another walkthrough Wednesday at their regular Valley Ranch practice facility.

"We got a lot of plays run," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "We're continuing our training camp mode, running Cowboys against Cowboys. But it was good to get out here, getting guys running football plays."

Because of the normal rush hour and a crowd of more than 46,000 going into the Texas Rangers game against the New York Yankees across the street, buses carrying Cowboys players arrived late after getting caught in traffic.

Tight end DajLeon Farr took part in his first workout with his new team. Farr, a rookie free agent who was in camp with the San Diego Chargers, was signed Tuesday after three backup tight ends were injured in the preseason opener Sunday night.

Farr replaced injured tight end Kevin Brock, who hurt his left ankle Sunday and was cut to make room on the roster. Farr expects to play Thursday.

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to," he said. "That's what they brought me in for."

Farr joins Pro Bowl starter Jason Witten as the only healthy tight ends on the roster. Farr was signed in May by the Chargers as an undrafted rookie out of Memphis and cut last week.

John Phillips, the No. 3 tight end last season as a rookie, is out for the season after tests Monday confirmed he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the preseason opener.

Witten's primary backup, Martellus Bennett, was held out of the preseason opener to give him time to heal from the sprained ankle that forced him to miss the first week of training camp. Bennett didn't participate in Tuesday's workout.

"I always want to play, but I don't want to go out there and mess (the ankle) up more than what it already is," Bennett said. "What really counts is the season."

NOTES: Receiver Titus Ryan, who broke his thumb returning a kick Sunday, also was cut. ... Running back Tashard Choice was absent to attend a funeral. ... Safety Patrick Watkins (knee) and defensive end Marcus Spears (knee) were defensive starters who did not practice. ... Backup quarterback Stephen McGee practiced with a wrap on his right knee. ... The Cowboys cheerleaders also made an appearance, firing up spectators -- many of whom stood in 100-degree heat waiting for the doors to open.

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