OXNARD, California -- Jaylon Smith's development continues.
With Sean Lee getting the day off because of his veteran status, Smith took the first-team middle linebacker snaps, with Anthony Hitchens sliding over to the Lee's weak-side spot.
The number of snaps was a little more than what Smith had been taking with the second team. This was the sixth time in nine full-padded practices in which he has worked. The Dallas Cowboys have a morning practice Thursday, and Lee will return to work.
Jaylon Smith taking the first team middle linebacker snaps with Sean Lee out. Anthony Hithens moved to weak side linebacker
Smith's best play might have been on a bubble screen to the right on which he slid through the traffic and was able to get to Ryan Switzer before the rookie receiver could make a longer gain. In 7-on-7 work, Smith appeared to slightly alter a throw down the seam from Dak Prescott to tight end James Hanna.
In the team drills to close practice, he was pleased with a stop of Ezekiel Elliott near the goal line on a delay. Unofficially, Smith took part in 21 snaps in team and 7-on-7 drills.
Prescott completed 15 of 21 passes in team and 7-on-7 drills. With Jason Witten and Dez Bryant sitting out of practice with "vet days," and Brice Butler injured early in the workout, Terrance Williams and Andy Jones were the starting receivers with Cole Beasley in the slot. Prescott had his fourth interception of camp but was able to make a nice adjustment on an underneath throw to Beasley. With a pass-rusher closing, Prescott dropped down for a side-arm delivery for a nice gain.
Emmett Cleary took the first-team snaps at left tackle, with Tyron Smith sitting out with a sore back, Cleary seemed to struggle in the first part of team drills and was replaced briefly by Kadeem Edwards.
Switzer took part in team drills for the first time since suffering a hamstring strain. With Witten sitting, the Cowboys used the package that has Beasley and Switzer on the field for the first time.
With CB Orlando Scandrick getting a day of rest and Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis and Marquez White rehabbing from hamstring strains, Duke Thomas served as the third corner behind Nolan Carroll and Chidobe Awuzie.
S Xavier Woods did all he could with TE Rico Gathers in the one-on-one compete period. He jammed Gathers off the line to slow him down early, but the 6-foot-7 Gathers was able to use his frame to play through the smaller Woods to come down with a high Kellen Moore throw.
Jonathan Cooper's strength was evident when working at center against DT Stephen Paea. Cooper was able to deliver a big punch after the snap, rocking Paea backward, giving him the upper-hand in the drill.
OT Dan Skipper had rough back-to-back plays in the second-team offense's first work. He appeared to hold David Irving in the end zone for what would have been a safety, then was knocked over by Damontre Moore on a bull rush.