OXNARD, Calif. – The Cowboys were encouraged by guard Mackenzy Bernadeau's first contact work Thursday.

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They just aren’t ready to declare Bernadeau ready for Monday night’s game. That decision will be made based on how Bernadeau, who underwent offseason hip and knee surgeries, fares and feels in two more full-padded practices this week.

“For a guy who hasn’t practiced at all in the spring and through the early part of training camp, he came back and did a really good job,” coach Jason Garrett said. “Now, the question for all these guys is, can they sustain it? Certainly conditioning will be an issue for him, just having been out of it as long as he’s been out of it, but he had a very good day.”

Bernadeau was pleased with his first full-contact practice, saying he felt like he just needs to “get some dust off my shoulders and get into it.” He feels fine physically, but he acknowledges that he needs to continue getting extra conditioning work after not being able to run all offseason.

But the best conditioning, according to Bernadeau, comes with getting repetitions in game-like situations. That’s also the best way for him to work on the technique that offensive line coach Bill Callahan is drilling into his head.

“That only comes with reps and time,” said Bernadeau, who signed a four-year, $11 million deal and is penciled in as the starter at right guard. “Fortunately, I’m back now, so I can get that working.”