Cowboys Linebacker Gets Injured From Paintball, Should Live In Bubble During Offseason

WJ Cope9 years ago

Yesterday, Vikings backup quarterback Taylor Heinecke severed a tendon in his left foot while helping a friend of his break into his apartment. Today, we have a very similar freak injury. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson managed to injure his eye by getting shot with a paintball, and will be out for several weeks.

From Fox Sports:

Dallas Cowboys backup linebacker Damien Wilson is starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list because he was shot in the eye with a paintball.

Jerry Jones revealed the news in his press conference Friday.

“We have a player that was hit in the eye by a paintball that won’t be here for 2-3 weeks,” he said.

This latest freak injury is reminiscent of when Jason Pierre-Paul blew off part of his hand in a fireworks accident last year. While Wilson is only a backup for the Cowboys, this injury certainly won’t help a situation in which defenders Randy Gregory, Rolando McClain, and Demarus Lawrence are suspended for parts of the upcoming season. Dallas couldn’t afford to get much thinner on defense, but that’s exactly what they just did.

For teams in the Cowboys’ situation, perhaps more communication with the players is needed. Something like, “Hey guys, uh, maybe stop doing stupid shit? Yeah? Okay, great, thanks. Carry on.” These players obviously have their own lives and are free to do what they please, but doing things like wearing goggles when you could be domed with a paintball can go a long way..

[via Fox Sports]

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