FRISCO, Texas - Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence suffered a broken leg in Wednesday's practice, which will force him to miss six to eight weeks, according to sources.
It's a major blow to a defense that didn't generate a sack in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and could have been on Sunday without his second-best pass rusher Randy Gregory against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Lawrence was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's exercise, but immediately had an MRI, which revealed the break. Lawrence did not practice for most of training camp due to off-season back surgery, but he recorded six tackles, two quarterback pressure, and a rumble against the Buccaneers. He has 45.5 sacks for his career and is a two-time Pro Bowl pick.
Lawrence tweeted on Wednesday that he would "be back and ready."
For Gregory, coach Mike McCarthy didn't look hopeful before practice passing COVID-19 protocols in time to play against the Chargers.
"If you look at history, it's been 10 days, everyone we dealt with in the COVID protocol," he said. "We'll see how it goes."
With Lawrence out and if Gregory can't play, the Cowboys will likely replace Dorrance Armstrong and Tarrell Basham on the defensive end as their starters, with Bradley Anne and Chauncey Golston as backup. He has combined for 10 sacks in his career, or only 3.5 sacks more than what Lawrence had recorded a year earlier. Basham has 7.5 sacks from 59 matches.
Golston, a third-round choice in this year's draft, missed all training camp with a hamstring injury and was inactive for the season opener.
Perhaps the start of Wednesday's practice was a bad omen for the Cowboys' defensive line. Assistant defensive line coach Leon Lett was taken off the field with an apparent right knee injury that would require surgery.
Since the 31–29 loss to the Buccaneers, the Cowboys have lost four starts: wide receiver Michael Gallup was placed on injured reserve with a calf strain, for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, Gregory. L'El Collins was suspended five games for a right tackle. Was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and now Lawrence is out with a broken leg.
WFAA-TV first reported the news of Lawrence's leg injury.