Two Cowboys Stars left the Cowboys’ Week 4 victory, and their injuries could leave Dallas short-handed along the edge for a significant period. The exact recovery timeline for Parsons is currently unclear, but Lawrence is not expected to return to the field anytime soon.
Lawrence is dealing with a Lisfranc injury, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. He reports that the affected bones were not displaced when the 32-year-old was injured, which means surgery won’t be necessary. While this is a positive sign, Archer notes that a recovery period of four to eight weeks is likely, making Lawrence a strong candidate for injured reserve.
If placed on IR, Lawrence would be guaranteed to miss at least four weeks, and given his prognosis, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Cowboys decided to take that route. The four-time Pro Bowler currently leads the team with three sacks this season, so his absence will be significant, especially with Parsons also likely sidelined. Compounding the situation is the fact that Sam Williams is out for the year, meaning Chauncey Golston and Marshawn Kneeland will need to shoulder increased responsibilities moving forward.
The free-agent market for veteran edge rushers is currently limited, with Haason Reddick potentially being a trade target amid his Jets holdout. However, the Cowboys are not pursuing Reddick, so the team will rely on its internal options to fill in for both Lawrence and Parsons in the meantime. Although the Cowboys’ defense rebounded in their Thursday night win against the Giants, questions remain about the unit’s depth given the ongoing injury issues.
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