Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys CB Patmon pressed into action after Scandrick injury

Published Aug. 27, 2015 12:19 a.m. ET

foxsports

One day after the Dallas Cowboys lost cornerback Orlando Scandrick to a torn ACL, it was Tyler Patmon lining up with the first team defense in the slot. Patmon stands at 5-foot-10, 188-pounds, and he was a former 2014 undrafted free agent.

Patmon is built in the mold of a nickel cornerback, and he has molded his game by watching Scandrick practice and play.

“Coming on this team, it was me and Orlando who had the most similarities out of anybody else, any corners on the team,’’ said Patmon, per David Moore of the Dallas News. “I definitely watched him a lot last year, watched him a lot this year and learned a lot from him of how to play in there.

“We’re both fighters, definitely. Orlando is one of the best leaders on our team, especially when it comes to that fire, that attitude. He’s always ready to play and give his all.’’

The Cowboys are counting on big things from Patmon now that Scandrick is out for the 2015 regular season, and he has made an early impression. The Cowboys immediately looked to Patmon following the bad news on Scandrick. Head coach Jason Garrett also sees some similarities between the two cornerbacks.

“He has a lot of the same kind of traits that Orlando has,’’ Garrett said. “His strengths are the instinctive way he plays, his ability to make plays, just has a good feel for the game.

“He’s a great competitor. He’s feisty, he fights, he battles and scratches and claws, so we’re going to give him an opportunity in there first.’’

Patmon's first major test will come during the Cowboys' third preseason game. In a dress rehearsal for the regular season, Patmon will match up against Vikings slot wide receiver Jairus Wright. Although Wright is not a big name, he has succeeded in limited opportunities thus far in his career. Patmon has an opportunity to make an early statement that he belongs with the first team unit in nickel situations.

(h/t Dallas News)