Cowboys rookie Jourdan Lewis to stand trial for misdemeanor domestic violence charge

Dallas Cowboys rookie cornerback Jourdan Lewis is expected to miss the first part of training camp after his trial for a misdemeanor domestic violence charge was scheduled for Monday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Lewis and prosecutors were unable to reach a settlement at a pre-trial hearing Thursday, one day after Cowboys rookies were scheduled to report to camp in Oxnard, Calif. Veterans will report on Saturday.

MLive.com reported that testimony is expected to begin Tuesday.

Lewis, a two-time All-America at Michigan, was a third-round pick in late April, nearly six weeks after the alleged incident with his live-in girlfriend. She told police that Lewis put “his hands around her neck,” according to MLive.com.

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Lewis pleaded not guilty and now will have the chance to have his case heard at trial.

His situation is just one of several off-field incidents the Cowboys are dealing with. Second-year running back Ezekiel Elliott remains under investigation by the NFL for multiple allegations of domestic violence, though Dallas police announced Wednesday an investigation into an altercation at a nightclub involving Elliott has been suspended. Two defensive linemen, David Irving and Randy Gregory have received drug-related suspensions.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett defended the character of his players Wednesday.

“We’ve had some incidents here in the offseason that we’ve had to address. But if we didn’t believe in the players who were involved in the incidents, they wouldn’t be with our team,” Garrett said.

“We believe in them. It doesn’t mean they’re infallible. It’s our job to respond the right way, hold them accountable, hold themselves accountable.”

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Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones

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