IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys have 16 unrestricted free agents and one of them is a former first-round pick, cornerback Mike Jenkins.

It seems the Cowboys were never quite happy with Jenkins the entire offseason. He didn't rehab his surgically repaired shoulder in Dallas, instead doing it in Florida. Jenkins didn't attend the voluntary workouts, although he was there for the mandatory sessions.

But as is always the case in the NFL, injuries dictate a lot of things. Jenkins saw playing time, especially when slot corner Orlando Scandrick went down with a hand injury.

Jenkins even played some at safety and on special teams.

But the sting of the offseason, when the Cowboys moved up in the draft to select Morris Claiborne and signed free agent Brandon Carr to a $50.1 million deal, bothered Jenkins. It meant he lost his starting job and was regulated to backup duties.

It appears Jenkins will not return in 2013, leaving the Cowboys looking for a fourth corner in free agency or the draft.

"Do I want to come back?" Jenkins asked. "I've grown attached, I've been here for five years, I've grown attached to everybody here. It's hard to just get up and leave and not want to come back. At the same time ,you want to go somewhere and have a fair opportunity and I guess go on from there."