OXNARD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Mazie Smith returned to the practice field Monday after missing a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders due to an allergic reaction.
Smith was on the team bus preparing to drive to Los Angeles International Airport when he started feeling unwell.
“I started having a reaction right away, so I went to the medical staff right away, told them what was going on, and told them I knew what that felt like,” Smith said. “I knew what was going on.”
Smith said he’s had such reactions before, most recently before the 2023 NFL Draft scouting combine. While he said he’s careful about what he eats, the reaction was due to something in some milk.
“I know everything there is to know when it comes to having an allergic reaction,” Smith said. “You can’t just panic, especially when it comes to your airwaves. [You] I want to make sure you are breathing and getting the proper treatment.
Smith spent time in the hospital Friday and missed the game against the Raiders. Smith said he will participate in final practices while in Oxnard, Calif., on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He ran a series of post-training races with Micah Parsons and Osa Odighizwa on Monday.
“It’s business as usual,” Smith said.
Monday also saw the first training sessions for new defensive additions Jordan Phillips and Carl Lawson.
Phillips played against the Raiders despite not having a full practice with the Cowboys after being traded from the New York Giants last week. He took part in 10 snaps and was credited with one tackle.
He is expected to play as the third defensive back in Mike Zimmer’s defense, despite being the team’s largest defensive player at 341 pounds.
“I don’t care about stats. People look at stats and think you’re having a great game, but to me, as long as your linebackers are going to All-Pro and Pro Bowls, I’ve done my job all year,” Phillips said. “They didn’t do it themselves. I got guys off their backs and on the way there, I got some sacks and some tackles.”
Lawson officially signed his contract Monday and participated in team workouts. He practiced with the Cowboys after Sam Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first week of camp, but the team signed Shaka Toney and Al-Quaden Muhammad. Lawson said he had other opportunities but was happy to be reunited with running game coordinator Paul Guenther, who coached him with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Lawson played in just six games last year with the New York Jets and did not score, partly due to a back injury. The Jets released him in the offseason.
At 29, Lawson said he had “a lot left.”
“Honestly, I feel like I’m a younger player because I honestly feel like my potential hasn’t been maxed out because of injuries or situations or teams I’ve been on that haven’t worked out or midfielders that have been playing, whether they’ve been injured or been in a bad offensive position,” Lawson said. “So I’ve been a very effective press player in this league, but on losing teams. The opportunity to come to a team that can be ahead of the game so I can really show what I can do and finally get back healthy, I’m excited.”
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