Rumors earlier this offseason suggested that the cash-strapped Dallas Cowboys could part ways with oft-injured cornerback Morris Claiborne in an effort to free up some much needed salary cap space. At the very least, the Cowboys wanted to wait before exercising the former first-round pick's fifth-year option for 2016. Claiborne has failed to live up to expectations when on the field, ranking as just the No. 80 cornerback in the league as a rookie and No. 88 in 2013.
Now, the notion that Claiborne's time in Dallas has come to an end seems even more possible. Claiborne is expected to miss the entire offseason while still recovering from a torn patella tendon suffered in Week 4. The injury is notoriously difficult to return from, and Claiborne was already considered injury-prone having missed six games in 2013.
"It's going to be a long haul for Claiborne," ESPN's Cowboys reporter Todd Archer wrote. "...From what I've been able to gather, you won't see him on the field in the offseason program and he might not be ready for the early part of training camp.
"It's more complicated than a comeback from, say, a torn anterior cruciate ligament. There is a lot of stress on the tendon because of the nature of the position. Time is the best healer, but building up strength is a must too."
The Cowboys surrendered more than 300 passing yards in two of the four games Claiborne appeared in before going down with his injury, so it's not as if he was making a significant difference when healthy. Claiborne will either be a cap casualty this offseason or have just one more year to convince the Cowboys to stick with him. Either way, it's a tough situation to be in.
