IRVING, Texas -- Unless Dez Bryant signs his franchise tag tender soon, he is not required to show up for the Dallas Cowboys' mandatory minicamp next week.
The same can't be said for Rolando McClain, however, and coach Jason Garrett was not sure if the linebacker will make an appearance.
McClain has remained in Alabama to rehab his surgically-repaired right knee and has not been with the team through the organized team activities.
"Well, the minicamp is mandatory," Garrett said. "It's the only thing in the offseason that is mandatory, so it's important for us to make sure that's clear to everybody and express that to our players. There are some specific situations where things that you do in a mandatory fashion don't always happen. You know players miss practice during the season for different reasons and those are mandatory. So we'll work through the specific situations as we go. Rolando is doing a good job with his rehab, and we'll see what his plans are for next week."
A few years ago former cornerback Mike Jenkins chose to do the bulk of his rehab from reconstructive shoulder surgery away from the team and was not 100 percent by the time training camp started. McClain had arthroscopic surgery to clear up an issue that bothered him last year and did not dissipate with rest in the offseason.
Players are subject to fines if they do not appear at the minicamp.
When asked directly if McClain would show up next week, Garrett said, "Yeah, I don't want to get into much more detail than that."