IRVING, Texas -- Last week Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Rolando McClain was dealing with a family matter in missing the organized team activities but the linebacker was expected to return this week.
The Cowboys opened up their second week of OTAs on Tuesday and McClain was not in attendance, according to sources. The Cowboys will practice Wednesday and Thursday this week. They conclude their OTAs next week and have their mandatory minicamp June 14-16.
The offseason practices are voluntary, so McClain is not subject to any penalty. The Cowboys hoped that a full offseason of work would be beneficial to McClain, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $5 million in March.
In 2014 he was acquired in a trade from the Baltimore Ravens in July after the offseason program ended. He missed most of the offseason program in 2015 because of knee surgery, choosing to rehab away from the team. He showed up for the mandatory minicamp in June but did not take part in a training camp practice in Oxnard, California.
After missing the first four games in 2015 because of a suspension, McClain played in 11 games and was credited by the coaches with 97 tackles, two sacks, nine tackles for loss, 10 quarterback pressures, one interception and three pass deflections.
The Cowboys signed McClain to a one-year deal in March that included a $750,000 signing bonus and $1.25 million base salary. For every week he is on the Cowboys’ 46-man roster, he can earn an extra $125,000, maxing out at $2 million. He can also earn up to $1 million in incentives.