Naturally, David Durden's MRI result Thursday did not interrupt national newscasts. It confirmed the team’s initial belief: On Wednesday evening, when Durden...
Durden, who was expected to begin the season on the practice squad, lacks visibility on the NFL radar — and understandably so based on career production to date. But inside the Cowboys organization, this injury is felt no less, the emotional and multifaceted ripple a reminder of the team’s investment in personnel as roster cuts on Monday and Tuesday loom.Offensive assistant Chase Haslett coached tight ends at Mercer in 2019 when Durden, having become bored of baseball, played there.
In 2020, Durden transferred to West Florida and starred while on area scout Eric Ellingworth’s territory. Ellingworth interviewed the easygoing athlete who spent his free time hunting duck, playing beach volleyball, and not watching the NFL. He evaluated the film that Durden, a clear Division I-level athlete on a Division II field, produced; Durden caught 54 passes for 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022 while enjoying the physicality in run blocking.
After significant work, the Cowboys believed in Durden. This was someone who could be comfortably projected to become, as a floor, a quality NFL special teamer. And Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen, who went from Division II’s Minnesota State to longtime Minnesota Vikings standout, gave recent precedent for Durden developing into much more, over time. Even Thielen spent his rookie year on the practice squad.At rookie minicamp, Durden proved easy to like.
“That definitely showed his speed,” Prince said of the touchdown. “Maybe he hit 22 mph on that go route. Also, during one-on-ones, he ran a go route right past one of our DBs, and then he ran a little dig route. The speed that he ran it, it was like, OK, it’s starting to click for him.”
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