IRVING, Texas — While the NFL sent Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson away for the rest of the season in the growing child abuse controversy, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent is expected to make his season debut against the New York Giants on Sunday.

It will be Brent’s first game since being convicted of vehicular manslaughter in the December 2012 death of teammate Jerry Brown. Brent was convicted in January, given 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation. The NFL suspended him for the first nine games of this season.

But coach Jason Garrett said Brent made huge strides since returning to practice two weeks ago and has a good chance to play Sunday for the first time in almost two years.

“He’s certainly part of the defensive line rotation that we are evaluating and we will just see how he practices,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “He has made a lot of strides each day he has practiced. It’s getting better and better, meaning lighter and lighter.

“He is certainly bigger than the other guys playing the defensive tackle spots for us. One thing about Josh is that he is very athletic. He is athletic with his feet. He is athletic with his hands. He can get off of blocks. Those are the traits you are looking for. He is a competitive guy. He is a tough guy. He is in the stage of trying to get his body right and his feet underneath him.”