National Football League

Cowboys' brass expecting Brent to see field soon

Published Nov. 11, 2014 10:26 p.m. ET

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ARLINGTON, Texas - While Cowboys coach Jason Garrett cautioned that Josh Brent still needs to get in shape before he returns to the playing field, the Cowboys' top executives are banking on him returning soon.

Brent was added to the 53-man roster Tuesday after serving a 10-game suspension by the NFL for his intoxication manslaughter conviction in the death of teammate Jerry Brown Jr.

Brent, a defensive tackle, has been working out at the Cowboys' Valley Ranch facility and attending meetings.

The Cowboys are in a bye week and don't return to action until Nov. 23 at the New York Giants. Owner Jerry Jones said he thinks Brent could be one of the 46 players on the active roster that day.

"Yes. He very well could," Jones said Tuesday at a Cowboys press event. "Now, [defensive coordinator] Rod Marinelli's going to decide the eight that are out there, and that's directly, usually dictated by how hard they've worked at practice."

Jones is banking on Brent has dedicated himself to returning to football so he can help the daughter of Jerry Brown Jr., who was born seven weeks after his death. Brown, a college teammate of Brent's and a Cowboys practice squad player, was in the passenger seat when Brent wrecked his car in December 2012.

Brent was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years probation.

"He had some experiences since he's last been on the field, let's put it like that, that make him appreciate every second he gets to be on the football field," Jones said. "He's got some real goals. He wants to help that little girl very much, which is Jerry Brown's daughter."

As part of his requirements for reinstatement by the NFL, Brent was able to sit in on meetings and work individually beginning in Week 7 of the season. He was able to participate in practice in Week 9, but not able to travel with the team.

The Cowboys are now 7-3 with six games left in the regular season.

"We think he's ready," Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said. "I think he brings something that really the other guys don't have in terms of his size and physicality. Especially if you start thinking about teams that might want to line up and run the ball on us. He brings size and strength to that spot that we haven't had."

Earlier in the day, Garrett voiced reservations about Brent's readiness for NFL competition.

"He's too heavy right now, he's trying to get his weight down," Garrett said. "He's got to get into football shape." 

However, the way Brent has worked to get back on the roster gives Jones confidence he will be in uniform soon.

"He's really been impressive. He certainly wants to get on the field," Jones said.

"The bottom line is I do expect him to get back out there because he's driven. He's really driven. He has personal incentives and he has incentives are logical that he's going to be a hard man to keep off the football field."

Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire

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