FRISCO, Texas -- Not only should Ezekiel Elliott make his preseason debut against the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, but so should linebacker Sean Lee.

Most of the starters did not play in the Cowboys’ first two preseason games but saw action in last week’s contest against the Indianapolis Colts. But a hamstring strain kept Lee on the sideline.

Lee, who spent ample time with assistant athletic trainer/director of rehabilitation Britt Brown, returned to practice this week.

“I thought I had three really good weeks [in Oxnard, California], took a little time off with this hamstring and then worked with Britt, got back and had four really good practices,” Lee said.

Lee isn’t sure how much he will play Saturday, but it figures to be the only time he will see any preseason action because the starters will not play in the final preseason game Aug. 31 against the Houston Texans.

“I think it helps,” Lee said. “I think you can practice as much as you can, but you’ve got to replicate game speed and the only way to do that is to get in the game. I think I need to play. I like to play in the preseason games. I think it helps me start the right way when the season starts the first game.”

** It was a rough start to practice for the first-team offense coming off the goal line. They had a false start, then there was a poor exchange between QB Dak Prescott and C Travis Frederick that led to the benching of the unit. On the second snap for the No. 2 offense, RB Darren McFadden fumbled.

** S Byron Jones picked off Prescott on a deep throw to the post to Dez Bryant. Considering there were three defenders around Bryant, this may have been one of those training-camp gambles Prescott talked about taking earlier in the summer. Later, Prescott rifled a seam ball to TE Jason Witten for a touchdown.

** K Dan Bailey connected on a 50-yard field goal to give the first-team offense a 24-23 win in situational work. The drive was aided by a potentially questionable pass interference penalty on Anthony Brown, who was covering Bryant. In his subsequent six field goal attempts, Bailey made kicks from 50, 51, 49, 51, 52 and 54 yards. Yes, he is ready for the season.

** WR Brice Butler might have dropped a pass for the first time all camp when he was unable to come down with a 55-yard throw from Kellen Moore that should have been a touchdown. It shouldn’t ruin what has been a good summer for Butler.

** WR Ryan Switzer took some turns in 11-on-11 drills for the first time since the second week of practice in Oxnard. He has been limited by a hamstring strain and was able to catch a pass to the slot from Cooper Rush.

** For the first time since the first two days in Oxnard, the Cowboys were not in pads at the start of practice. They were in shells and shorts as they did some prep work for Saturday’s game against Oakland.

** WR Andy Jones should play Saturday after missing time the last week or so with a quadriceps strain. LB John Lotulelei will not play because of a forearm injury. NT Cedric Thornton (hamstring) has not practiced the last two days and is unlikely to play.