IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne was informed on Tuesday that he lost his starting job. Claiborne then reacted by leaving the team's Valley Ranch practice facility, skipping team meetings and the group walk-through.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said during his Wednesday morning press conference that Claiborne returned to the facility around 8 p.m. on Tuesday and the two had a meeting.
Garrett said Claiborne addressed the team, would participate in Wednesday's practice and play Sunday night against New Orleans.
"He didn't take that news very well," Garrett said. "We're going to discipline him, but we're going to keep how we discipline him in house, and we'll move forward. It's behind us."
Claiborne has struggled throughout his time with the Cowboys. Since being drafted with the sixth overall pick in 2012, the former LSU standout has had a difficult time staying healthy and making a significant impact. Claiborne recorded a critical interception late in Sunday's 34-31 win over St. Louis, however, he was burned on several plays throughout the game.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged during a Tuesday radio interview on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM] that Claiborne has not met the team's expectations. But Jones added that the franchise is "not giving up on him at all" and believes "he's going to be a good player."
"It's our job to try to play the best players," Garrett said. "We'll do that at every position. Orlando Scandrick came back last week. After three days of practice, he played 51 snaps in the game, and we just felt like when we evaluated that, his performance relative to Mo's, we felt like he deserved the opportunity to start at that cornerback position."
Garrett, who would not acknowledge if Claiborne has been bumped below Sterling Moore on the depth chart, said Claiborne was apologetic.
"He understood that he made a mistake," Garrett said. "Guys are competitors. When they hear news that doesn't go their way, different guys react different ways. He obviously knew that he didn't react the right way."
Garrett later added: "We feel like he's a talented player. We feel like he just needs to play. When he's been banged up and missed a lot of time, that has a negative impact on his development, there's no question about that. He wants to be a good player. He's going to keep competing for a role on this defense, and we'll see how his development continues going forward."
