Rob: Jerry Jones said his feeling is McClain could be ready for Week 1 if he were eligible to play. He’s not eligible – not until the day after the Week 4 Saints game on Monday, Oct. 5. The Cowboys could presumably place him on Reserve/PUP to start the season, meaning he’d miss the season’s first six weeks (five games counting the bye) and his four-game suspension would run concurrently. Jones indicated the team doesn’t need to see McClain in preseason, and at this point, unless he came back for the preseason finale with all the starters likely sitting, a preseason appearance for the veteran linebacker seems unlikely with the dress rehearsal game nine days away.
David: You can generally get an idea of how far away a player is based on what type of work he is doing. McClain has been doing conditioning and rehab on his knee, but you don’t get the feeling he’ll be suiting up any time in the next week. And honestly, what’s the point of rushing him? McClain has to serve his suspension anyway. Let him ease his way back and be completely healthy when he returns to the roster in October.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...ates-rolando-mcclains-rehab-hardys-suspension