The Dallas Cowboys fell short in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers in disappointing fashion, which was compounded by defensive end Randy Gregory suffering a concussion.

There had been some questions concerning his availability for Week 2 action against the New York Giants due to being placed in the concussion protocol. However, Rod Phillips of  DallasCowboys.com is reporting that Gregory was able to participate in practice on Friday after being medically cleared.

Gregory placed in the season opener but did not register a single tackle in the contest prior to suffering the concussion. He had missed all of last season due to a suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, which Sunday's game had marked his first appearance since Week 17 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2016  campaign.

The 25-year-old looks to be on pace to take the field to play against the New York Giants, where he could factor into the equation as a key piece on the defensive front. Although the Cowboys fell short 16-8 against the Panthers, the team was able to stay in the game behind some key stops from their defense that was led by Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence garnering seven tackles including a sack in the loss. Dallas has a need for another pass-rushing presence especially with defensive tackle David Irving out of the lineup for the first four games of the year due to a suspension for violating the league's substance about policy.

These next couple of days prior to Sunday's game will be indicative of his status for the contest. The fact that he was medically cleared to be able to take the practice field on Friday is a telling sign that he's headed in the right direction toward playing against the Giants. If he's unable to play, the Cowboys will lean more heavily on defensive end Tyrone Crawford.