OXNARD, Calif. -- Since his two-day absence from the Cowboys, wide receiver Cole Beasley has been an explosive player.

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Cowboys WR Cole Beasley talks about leaving the team and coming back, his impressive performance throughout training camp, developing a rapport with QB Tony Romo and more. Listen

He's getting first-team snaps as a slot receiver, catching touchdown passes and drawing pass interference penalties.

Bealsey left the team for two days for personal reasons but returned focused.

Coach Jason Garrett has noticed.

"Players need to regain their perspective on where they are," Garrett said. "One of the things we liked about Cole Beasley coming out of school was his love of the game, his passion for the game, his willingness to work at it, and that's just how he's always played. It showed up on tape in college and it showed up around us in the spring, so by having to leave, we just had to try and help him regain his perspective, and when he came back he was the guy that we knew."

The No. 3 receivers job is wide open.

Kevin Ogletree is ahead of the group because he's getting snaps with the first team as Miles Austin sits with a hamstring injury. But Andre Holmes, Tim Benford, Dwane Harris, Raymond Radway and Beasley are in the mix, too.

Beasley's two-day departure could be perceived as a negative, but how he responded since returning is changing that.