Can the 2024 season just end already?
The Dallas Cowboys have played some inspired football over the last month. Motivated by Micah Parsons' never-say-die attitude, Dallas has won three of their last four games and they easily could be riding a four-game winning streak if not for their collapse against the Bengals.
It's a testament to Mike McCarthy and the players in the locker room that they've continued to compete despite countless injury blows.
Cowboys fans thought the worst of it arrived early in the season. Incredibly, their luck has not regressed to the mean. In just the last couple of weeks, Dallas has lost multiple key players to season-ending injuries, including Zack Martin, DeMarvion Overshown and Trevon Diggs. Ascending cornerback Josh Butler also suffered a torn ACL on Thanksgiving.
Even though there's only three games left, the return of DeMarcus Lawrence would serve as a timely shot in the arm. Unfortunately, it looks increasingly likely that Lawrence has played his last snap of the season.
Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) unlikely to return in 2024
Former Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus reported on the GBag Nation on 105.3 The Fan that Lawrence will be shut down despite a concerted effort by both the player and training staff to get him back on the field.
"They tried their best to get him back," said Broaddus. "There was a couple times where I was passing by the field, watching him, and I felt like [he was working hard with Cowboys trainer Britt Brown). ... But they just couldn't get that (foot) where it needed to be, and it wasn't worth the risk for them going forward."
It had been trending in this direction. Parsons exuded confidence on Thanksgiving that Dallas could get Lawrence back for the following week against the Bengals. However, Mike McCarthy revealed on Wednesday that the team would not open Lawrence's 21-day practice window this week.
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A four-time Pro Bowler, Lawrence suffered a Lisfranc injury in Week 4. In retrospect, it's no surprise that this injury wiped out Lawrence's season.
You probably remember Jourdan Lewis' Lisfranc injury two years ago. Lewis broke his foot and damaged ligaments intercepting a pass and missed the rest of the season. Just two months ago, Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas suffered a Lisfranc injury that required season-ending surgery. It's a grueling injury that requires a lengthy rehab.
It's smart of the Cowboys to not expose Lawrence in the final four games. That doesn't make the reality any less disheartening, though. The 32-year-old is in the final year of his contract, so it's possible he has played his last snap with the franchise.
Drafted in the second round in 2014, Lawrence developed into one of the best Cowboys defenders this century. In 11 seasons, he tallied 66.0 sacks, 126 quarterback hits, 21 forced fumbles, 97 tackles for loss and a whopping 280 defensive stops, per PFF (subscription required).
Lawrence deserves to be a Cowboy for life. We'll see what the offseason holds, but it would be absolutely devastating if this is how No. 90's Dallas career ended.