IRVING, Texas – Kevin Kowalski is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list on Oct. 15, and the second-year center/guard is hoping to be back on the field in about a month.

Kowalski had surgery during training camp because of a severe case of tendinitis in his ankle. He first felt the pain in March, and when rest wasn’t able to cure the problem he opted for surgery.

“We’re making good progress, just kind of seeing how it goes from here and hopefully I’ll get back in the next month or so,” Kowalski said.

The Cowboys have until Nov. 3 to activate Kowalski off PUP. Once they activate him they have a three-week window to either add him to the 53-man roster or rule him out for the season.

Kowalski said he started running and doing on-field training Tuesday for the first time. He appeared in 11 games last year as an undrafted rookie, playing center and guard. The Cowboys hoped he would have been able to compete for the center job in the offseason with Phil Costa, but the injury took care of that.

“I’m very anxious,” Kowalski said. “I’m looking forward to being back out there and being healthy again and having an opportunity … It’s a process, but I’m kind of going through all of that right now so hopefully when I get out there I’ll be able to perform.”