Rolando McClain Sets NFL Return With Dallas Cowboys

Rolando McClain Sets NFL Return With Dallas Cowboys

Nearly two years after his previous NFL game, Rolando McClain has been considered to start in the NFL season-opener of the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas is set to host San Francisco for its season opener. Coach Jason Garrett of Dallas said McClain showed that he belonged to the team. The defensive coordinator of Dallas, Rod Marinelli, revealed that McClain may start the game against the 49ers. McClain is listed as the backup of Justin Durant on the depth chart of Dallas.

The return of McClain into the NFL was uncertain when he was hobbled with leg issues during the training camp. However, he seems prepared to continue with his football career.

Rolando McClain was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. He also won the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in the country for the BCS national championship team of Alabama in the same year. He was selected eighth during the 2010 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

McClain started in 38 games with Oakland before he was released by the team on April 5, 2013. Seven days after signing up with the Baltimore Ravens, he announced his retirement since he wanted to concentrate on his personal life. After talking with Ozzie Newsome, general manager of Baltimore, McClain worked out with the Ravens. He later announced his retirement again after he was reinstated.

McClain was acquired by the Dallas Cowboys in a July 1 trade with Baltimore. The Cowboys were looking to McClain as a possible substitute for Sean Lee, who was injured during the offseason. The injury of Lee will force him to miss the 2014 season.

Marinelli said he expects McClain to work hard as a linebacker for the team. He added that McClain has the length and range, and he is also a smart and physical player. Marinelli revealed that the main test of Rolando McClain will come during the game of the Dallas Cowboys against the San Francisco 49ers.

Posted by Andre Monohan on Monday September 08 2014, 3:20 AM EST. Ref: AL. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0