Dallas Cowboys: 5 biggest questions circling the defense

#3. Can Sean Lee play a whole season?

This Dallas Cowboys defense looked absolutely lost without veteran linebacker Sean Lee on the field for five games last year. And the two-time Pro Bowler will turn 32-years of age prior to the start of the regular season.

Concerned about Lee’s longevity, the Cowboys in part drafted Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Although Vander Esch is expected to start at middle linebacker this upcoming season, beside Lee at the weakside, there is little doubt his presence along with former second rounder Jaylon Smith is ushering in a new era at the position.

Following the loss of veteran Anthony Hitchens to free agency this offseason, the Cowboys had to shore up their linebacker corps. But Dallas is still woefully underprepared to lose a talent and field general like Lee for any amount of time in 2018. They simply do not have the experienced depth to handle such a loss yet. The fact is, not many NFL teams do.

In his entire eight-year career, Lee has yet to play an entire 16-game season as a professional. He has completed 15 contests in a year twice, and finished with 14 two more times. But since 2012, Lee has also missed a whopping 35 games total due to injury!

Like it or not, a lot of the Cowboys defensive success in 2018 still rides on whether Sean Lee is on the field or not. He’s simply irreplaceable.