For right now, anyway, things seem to be falling into place for Dallas Cowboys’ safety Andrew Sendejo.
The new kickoff rules lessen the importance of coverage aces like Danny McCray--who happens to be Sendejo’s competition. Further, McCray has been slowed down by a nagging shoulder injury, giving the UFL and Rice alum Sendejo a chance to practice with the first team in dime packages.
Sendejo feels bad for his teammate McCray, but understands that this is often how roster spots are won in the NFL.
“That’s how a lot of guys have made their career in the NFL,” Sendejo said recently, per the San Antonio Express-News. “Someone went down, they came in, they stepped up, they made some plays that showed their team and their coaches that they were able to step in and execute, so then they could trust them after that.”
In last Thursday’s preseason opener, Sendejo recorded four tackles in a performance that drew the attention of head coach Jason Garrett.
“He’s playing with more confidence and more decisiveness,” Garrett said, adding that Sendejo is one of the players for whom getting better borders on an obsession.
“He’s one of those same kind of guys,” Garrett said. “He’s a smart player. It’s really important to him. He’s trying to get better in all that he’s given the opportunity to do defensively and in the kicking game. And he’s getting better.”
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