FRIDAY, 4:31pm: The Cowboys have formally placed Claiborne on the IR, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter).
MONDAY, 5:35pm: Cowboys COO Stephen Jones says that Morris Claiborne‘s season is over due to his torn patellar tendon, tweets Desmond Purnell of the NFL Network. The cornerback was believed to have a torn ACL after his injury on Sunday night and it appears that today’s MRI has confirmed that early diagnosis.
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for the former No. 6 overall pick. Claiborne was torched for much of the team’s close 34-31 Week 3 victory and was subsequently bumped down on the depth chart in favor of veteran Orlando Scandrick. Claiborne didn’t take kindly to that news as he skipped that Tuesday’s walkthrough practice and left the team facility. The corner allowed five catches for 108 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown pass to Brian Quick, but apparently felt that he was unfairly getting the hook. Claiborne was also likely frustrated by Jerry Jones’ recent comments:
“Is he what we had hoped for at this point when we drafted him with the sixth overall pick, giving up the [second-round] pick to go up to the sixth pick to get him? No,” Jones said. “But he’s going to be a good player.”
Claiborne came back to the team’s facilities the next day but never really got the chance to prove Jones wrong.