Henry Melton to remain out until training camp

The Cowboys know it’s a real possibility that defensive end Anthony Spencer will have to start the regular season on the PUP list as he makes his way back from microfracture surgery and he isn’t the only member of the defensive line that they’ll be waiting to see on the field.

Bryan Broaddus of the Cowboys website reports that defensive tackle Henry Melton will not take part in OTAs, which start Tuesday, or any other on-field activity this spring. Melton hopes to be fully cleared to participate when the team gathers in Oxnard, California for training camp this summer.

Melton is recovering from a torn ACL, which has a bit more certainty in terms of a recovery timeline than Spencer’s microfracture surgery. There’s no such certainty about what kind of toll the injury might have taken on Melton, though, and the Cowboys will likely reintegrate him into football work patiently because they really need a healthy Melton in the middle of their defensive line whether or not Spencer is able to start the season on the field.

Recently signed defensive tackle Amobi Okoye will also miss OTAs after missing all of last season with an undisclosed medical problem and missing these defensive pieces has a familiar feel to it after the last two Cowboys seasons.