Sean

Lee

A two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro selection in 2016, Lee walks away with 995 career tackles, good for eighth in franchise history. He also holds the team record for most tackles (22) and solo tackles (17) in a single game (December 11, 2016). Oft-injured and absent for 58 games across 11 seasons in Dallas, Lee, 34, still defined hard-nosed defense as the unquestioned leader of that unit for a full decade.

While the Cowboys have dealt with defensive (and offensive) nightmares all season, it is not likely that this move will turn their tides and make a dent in the win-loss column. Lee should be good to go for SNF against the Eagles if called upon.

This opens Lee’s three-week practice window, at the end of which he must either be activated or stashed on I.R. for the rest of the season. Lee will undoubtedly be activated, but it is unlikely to be for Week 7 vs. the Football Team. Lee is not the player he once was, but the Cowboys’ embarrassing defense can use all the help it can get.

Lee had sports hernia surgery last week. He opened the year on IR and is targeting a mid-October return. With Leighton Vander Esch (collarbone) also sidelined, the Cowboys are down to Joe Thomas as their starting middle linebacker.

The move will become official on Sunday which allows Dallas to take Lee of injured reserve after three weeks. Lee’s injury is undisclosed but he was diagnosed with a sports hernia early in training camp. At 34 years old, Lee is mostly used in a reserve role these days. However, he became a full-time player once again last year after MLB Leighton Vander Esch went down with a neck injury. Lee will likely return to a smaller role once he’s healthy as Dallas will have Vander Esch back in the lineup to start the year.

The deal includes $2 million guaranteed. Lee was primarily used in a reserve role last year until he was forced onto the field while MLB Leighton Vander Esch recovered from a career-threatening neck injury. His 17-tackle performance against the Eagles in Week 16 was arguably one of the best of his career. 34 in July, Lee has enough gas in the tank to be useful off the bench but shouldn’t touch a starting lineup given his inability to keep healthy.

Lee was a backup for a large chunk of last season, only sliding into the starting lineup after stud LB Leighton Vander Esch was sidelined with a neck injury. The return of the team’s long-time leader on defense would be good news for their depth at the position and locker room alike. Lee will turn 34 years old in July, but did manage to play 16 games in 2019 for the first time in his career.

“I’m focusing on playing as of now,” said Lee, seemingly putting an end to any retirement rumblings. Notably, the 10-year vet wouldn’t commit to being back in Dallas, the team he’s spent his entire career with to this point. “I’m still deciding,” said Lee. “I’m waiting to kind of explore what some of my options are.” Lee later clarified that he “loves” playing in Dallas and “hopes” it works out, though the 33-year-old obviously understands the Cowboys have a lot on their plate this offseason with Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper both headed for free agency. Still, Lee wouldn’t be a bad insurance policy for injury-prone Leighton Vander Esch at linebacker.

Lee will reportedly take the next five weeks to decide his NFL future, though it’s more likely than not the 33-year-old will return for an 11th season. The Cowboys lifer took a pay-cut to remain with Dallas last year and would likely be amenable to a similar discount in 2020. We agree with Gehlken that it would be “difficult to imagine” Lee playing anywhere but Dallas.

The Falcons selected Sean Weatherspoon and the Cardinals grabbed Daryl Washington between Rolando McClain at No. 8 and the Cowboys’ selection of Lee at No. 55. The Raiders would have targeted Lee in the second round if they had gone a different direction in the first.