Peters, new Dallas Cowboys recruit

Peters was hired through the practice squad and trained this Monday, on the first official day of “season week”, but separately, in the process of “acclimatization” to his new team.

Coach McCarthy said Peters needs to get into “football shape” and that at the end of the week they will discuss his possible availability on Sunday for the first game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“We’ll see how today’s practice goes,” McCarthy said at his first official regular-season news conference Monday. “We’re going to put him out there (training camp) and see how he’s doing to get back to his playing shape.”

The Cowboys sought Peters after the Aug. 25 hamstring tear suffered by starting left tackle Tyron Smith, who will be out of action until at least December.

“It’s about adding depth and bringing another excellent play to our program,” the coach said of Peters, 40, including 18 in the NFL, 11 of which were with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played 15 games as a starter with the Chicago Bears last season.

McCarthy reiterated that rookie Tyler Smith, drafted in the first round of last year’s draft, is the leading candidate to fill in as the starting left tackle beginning Sunday.

However, Tyler Smith, who played his collegiate career as a left tackle at the University of Tulsa, coached the vast majority of the time in the offseason program and preseason camp as a left guard.

To make room on the practice squad roster for Peters, the Cowboys cut defensive end Mika Tafua.

With Peters, the practice squad roster reached the six-player veteran limit.