Travis

Frederick

Frederick just turned 29 years old last week, so this comes as quite a surprise. Frederick, of course, missed the entire 2018 season as he battled Guillain-Barre Syndrome, but he returned to the field last year and started all 16 games on his way to a Pro Bowl. Frederick says in his announcement that while he played “well,” he didn’t play at the standards he felt he was at before missing 2018 and cites numerous reasons for stepping away. In his six healthy seasons, Frederick never missed a start and made the Pro Bowl five times with one first-team All-Pro selection. The Cowboys will now move forward with Joe Looney penciled in at center for the time being. Looney started for Frederick in 2018.

Frederick was active for the preseason opener but only played nine snaps. It’s a great sign he didn’t suffer any setbacks. The Cowboys plan to increase Frederick’s snaps over the next two games. Frederick remains on track to be 100 percent for Week 1.

Per Rapsheet, Frederick is “ready to go.” A first-team All-Pro as recently as 2016, Frederick missed all of 2018. It was a huge blow for the Cowboys, whose once vaunted offensive line took a major step back, especially in the run blocking department. If 28-year-old Frederick is indeed back to full strength, he will be a massive upgrade on 2018 starter Joe Looney.

After missing all of last season, Frederick has participated in every part of the offseason program to this point including on-field work. “It was good to see him out there in a stance, running football plays,” Garrett said. “He looks really good.” All signs continue to point to Frederick returning to the lineup this year.

The Cowboys drafted Connor McGovern in the third round, but they view him as more of a swing player and future starter. Frederick has been setback-free since returning to the field earlier this month. He looks on track for mandatory OTAs.

Frederick missed all of last season while battling Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Asked if he will be ready for training camp, Frederick said he is “confident” but cannot be sure until he sees how his body responds. “We really won’t know until I get out and do it again,” Frederick said. “I feel good in everything that I’m doing, and everything’s been on schedule or ahead of schedule. So I feel good. I’m excited to get back out there.” Frederick’s healthy return would be a big boost to an offensive line that took a step back last season.

This has been the expectation, but it is still great news for a player who lost all of the 2018 season to a serious illness and underwent shoulder surgery in January. It remains unclear if Frederick will be a full-go when OTAs open next month, but he is certainly on the right track.

Frederick missed all of 2018 while battling Guillain-Barre Syndrome and underwent shoulder surgery in January. He apparently will be recovered by the time OTAs open, however, and will try to make a comeback. Frederick’s return would be a big boost to an already sturdy offensive line.

The Cowboys are taking this as a sign Frederick plans to return for the 2019 season after missing all of 2018 to deal with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which caused numbness in his limbs. Frederick told reporters in early December that his intention is to resume playing. A four-time Pro Bowler, Frederick’s loss proved crippling for a Dallas offensive line that regressed sharply in 2018.

Frederick doesn’t expect to return this season, but his positivity going into next season is certainly good news for him and the Cowboys. Frederick was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease called Guillan Barre Syndrome in August of this year.