Dallas Cowboys: Breaking down the unfortunate injury to Demarcus Lawrence

The Dallas Cowboys can’t catch a break. Star edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence broke his foot in practice today. He will require surgery and the initial diagnosis is 6-8 weeks of recovery time.

This news comes in the same week the team finds out offensive tackle La’el Collins will be suspended for five games, wide receiver Michael Gallup is on injured reserve for 3-5 weeks, and their other star pass rusher Randy Gregory gets tested positive for COVID-19.

Lawrence was dominant against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week recording five tackles and the big forced fumble on running back Ronald Jones. The Dallas defense, which was already under a microscope going into the season, will be without their captain for the foreseeable future.

In his place, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will look to backups Dorance Armstrong and Tarell Basham. Armstrong had a strong training camp and preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals and Basham is a free agent from the New York Jets where he had 3.5 sacks last season. The Cowboys also have ends Bradlee Anae and Azur Kamara on the roster.

The front office could look outside the building via free agency, but their best value would probably come via trade. Some notable free agents who are out there are former Clevland Brown Olivier Vernon and former Atlanta Falcon Vic Beasley, who has a Dan Quinn connection.

No matter what the Dallas Cowboys do, it will be tough to replace the projected production from Lawrence on a defense that desperately needs production. If Gregory is able to play on Sunday against the Las Angeles Chargers, that will help. Now it becomes a “next man up” mentality for a team that has way too many injuries for only playing one game.