This is wrong from what I've read. He needs to come back after week 6(final 8 games) in order for the year to count. If he comes back after week 7 he risks getting an arbitrator ruling that he wasn’t on the roster long enough to get credit for the contract year.
Yep I am not sure what I was hearing then sorry for the confusion, apparently after 3 years you are considered a vet even on a rookie contract. Damn I was hoping what I thought I heard was the case but they must have been theorizing on 2nd year guys since they would be stuck. Either way Cowboys hold the cards he cannot miss 2 years and think he can come back, not with his civilian record of getting into trouble.