Prediction: Byron Jones ready to start at CB for Cowboys at Washington in Week 2

FRISCO - In Week 1, Byron Jones played 28 of 69 defensive snaps in the win over the Giants, his lightest workload since his 2015 rookie season. Is it Byron With A Bullet in Week 2 at the Dallas Cowboys travel to Washington?

“I'm feeling 100-percent healthy,'' Jones says in review of his offseason hip surgery. "Right now, it's about gaining the football reps and regaining the football skill set.“

As we approach the 'Skins, my impression is that Byron is about done splitting the week’s practice reps as a starting cornerback, as was the case a week ago when Anthony Brown got half the work -- and then Brown started against the Giants as well. I've seen the Pro Bowler Jones work to "ramp up,'' as coordinator Rod Marinelli is calling it, to a more full-time role.

And my prediction is ... It's time. Byron should be the first-team guy from front to back in practice (I believe that is the case as the week winds down) and I believe the Dallas staff wants to pronounce him a starter for Week 2.

Jones underwent hip surgery back on March 27 and missed all of training camp while rehabbing. I'm told he even sustained a minor setback in Oxnard before getting back on track, the positive results tied to what was literally almost daily offseason work here inside The Star accompanied by trainer Britt Brown.

If the entire group is healthy, they'd line up with Jones and Chidobe Awuzie at the corners, with Brown handling the slot corner and Jourdan Lewis behind them. The coaching staff has obviously been working with caution here.

But I've watched Byron Jones in practice this week, including on special teams ... and he looks good and I think it's a sign. Byron has not missed a single game in his four-year NFL career, and to his credit that was true in Week 1, too. But the real Byron Jones needs to be a starter ... and I think on Sunday that's the "100-percent healthy'' version of Byron that we'll see.

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