IRVING, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys held their ninth organized team activity of the offseason Wednesday and third open to the media, so we bring you a number of observations from the two-hour workout:

** S Gerald Sensabaugh did not practice because of a sore knee. Coach Jason Garrett said the decision to sit the veteran was precautionary.

** Tight ends coach John Garrett was in a walking boot during practice because of Achilles’ pain. He ran a 5K over the weekend (winning his age group, he added) and came up sore for the final half-mile.

** WR Dez Bryant was slow to get up after landing awkwardly on the ground after stretching for a Tony Romo pass. He did not appear to miss any practice time.

** You know DeMarcus Ware is ready for action when a team tries to run a toss to the weak side and he does not take a false step. Ware snuffed out such a play to DeMarco Murray during team run drills.

**With Mike Jenkins and Morris Claiborne not practicing, undrafted rookie CB Isaac Madison was taking turns with the first-team nickel and dime units.

** Unofficially Romo went 14-of-22 in team and seven-on-seven drills. His best throw came on a go route to Bryant, who sprinted past Orlando Scandrick for a would-be touchdown. On the first play of the next team period he hit Jason Witten for a touchdown as the tight end pulled away from a linebacker.

** CB Brandon Carr ended the first-team offense’s two-minute drill with a breakup of a Romo pass to Kevin Ogletree on fourth down. In seven-on-seven red zone drills, he broke up a slant to Dez Bryant.

** Kyle Orton went 13-of-21 in team and seven-on-seven drills. He was particularly effective in the red zone, hitting Andre Holmes for a touchdown on a perfect back-shoulder throw with C.J. Wilson in coverage.

** Undrafted rookie WR Tim Benford had two touchdowns in red-zone drills from Orton. The first came lined up in the slot and the second was a low throw to the back shoulder.

** Orton was 3-of-8 in the two-minute drill, but had one throw away and was victimized by a Raymond Radway drop. His fourth down throw to Cole Beasley down the seam was high.