National Football League

Austin out with hamstring strain

Published Aug. 5, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Miles Austin is dealing with hamstring issues again, and the Dallas Cowboys plan to be careful with their top receiver even though they don't think the problem is serious.

Coach Jason Garrett said Austin will miss at least a few days, and maybe a week, because of a strained hamstring. The two-time Pro Bowl receiver missed six games last season because of problems with both hamstrings.

''We have to make sure we learn from experience,'' Garrett said Sunday. ''We have got to make sure we are somewhat cautious with him, not getting him back to soon, and then when we get him back make sure we can continue to monitor that and he is on top of it as well.''

While Austin was out, undrafted rookie receiver Cole Beasley was back in camp two days after going home to deal with personal issues.

Austin didn't participate in the second half of Saturday's practice. If he is kept out for a week, he likely would not play in the Aug. 13 preseason opener at Oakland.

Garrett believes that part of the issue with Austin is that the receiver always works hard and will play or practice through discomfort.

''Sometimes when you are an undrafted free agent from Monmouth University and you are a Jersey tough-type guy, you don't want to tell the coach anything like that. You want to say, `Coach I'm fine','' Garrett said. ''That's one of Miles' greatest strengths. Sometimes it can creep in a negative way. ... We don't think it's going to be a serious thing. We are going to do everything to not let it linger.''

Beasley, who played at SMU, wouldn't specify his personal issues when he walked off the field after the morning walkthrough session. He flew back from Texas to California early Sunday morning and was on the field before even having time to eat.

''I just had some personal issues I had to go home and take care of, and now I'm back and ready to focus on football,'' Beasley said. ''Everything is cleared up.''

Garrett told reporters Saturday after Beasley left camp that the receiver had said playing football ''wasn't in his heart at this time.''

The Cowboys had placed Beasley on the exempt-left squad list. To get him back on the roster Sunday, they waived linebacker Aston Whiteside.

Garrett said the Cowboys decided to give Beasley a little time to see where he was in regards of his NFL career. The coach spoke to Beasley by phone Saturday night.

''One of the things we've liked about Cole Beasley is his passion for the game and his hunger for the game, he demonstrated that in high school and college, since he was with us in the spring,'' Garrett said. ''And he came back (in camp) and he didn't have quite that same fire.''

While it is unclear how teammates might view the rookie receiver, Garrett said the events from the past few days are done and behind him. Beasley took part in the team's scrimmage Sunday afternoon.

''We're moving on, put that in your rear-view mirror, don't worry about it and go forward,'' Garrett said. ''And it's important for him to demonstrate that passion and hunger that he's shown in the past to us, and I told him that. And he looked at me with some conviction in his eyes and said absolutely, and we're excited to have him back.''

NOTES: CB Mike Jenkins returned to Florida on Sunday to have his shoulder examined by Dr. James Andrews, who did surgery on it during the offseason. Garrett described it as a ''normal follow-up'' visit. After that, the Cowboys will have a better idea when Jenkins might be able to practice. ... Fans arriving for Sunday afternoon's scrimmage were held up at one point while officials had to remove a beehive near the entrance.