Report: Cowboys rookie Demarcus Lawrence to miss 8-12 weeks with leg injury

Feb 22, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Boise State Broncos defensive end Demarcus Lawrence speaks at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Boise State Broncos defensive end Demarcus Lawrence speaks at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL season has yet to arrive and Dallas Cowboys fans are already receiving poor news.

Per David Moore, beat reporter for the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys rookie lineman Demarcus Lawrence is expected to miss 8 to 12 weeks due to a foot injury suffered in training camp.

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In an earlier post which first reported Lawrence’s injury, our Jack Jorgensen emphasized the importance of Lawrence to the Cowboys’ defense.

"Back in May at the NFL Draft, the Cowboys traded up 13 spots in the draft on the second day, specifically targeting the pass rushing specialist out of Boise State with the no. 37 overall pick. With the absence of DeMarcus Ware, who is now with the Denver Broncos, team owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett were hoping that this young man could eventually be molded into as solid of a replacement off the edge as possible."

Last season, the Dallas Cowboys ranked dead last in total defense, allowing a league-high 415.3 yards per game. The 6,645 total yards given up on defense by Dallas in 2013 ranks third worst all-time behind the 1981 Baltimore Colts (6,793) and 2012 New Orleans Saints (7,042). The absence of Lawrence–and stud linebacker Sean Lee–will definitely impede the Cowboys’ chances of improving the defense going into the 2014 season.

Being out for 8 to 12 weeks, Lawrence will either return late September, late October or somewhere in between those parameters.