Doug Free Injury: Updates on Cowboys OT's Ankle and Return

Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Doug Free injured his ankle in Week 15 and missed the team's Week 16 and 17 games. He was inactive vs. the Lions and the Packers. Hewill have surgery to remove bone spurs.

Continue for updates. 

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Free to Have Surgery to Remove Bone Spurs

Wednesday, Jan. 14

Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas provides an update on Free's injury:

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Right tackle Doug Free will undergo surgery in the near future to remove bone spurs from his left ankle as well as clean up a stress fracture that knocked him out of the Cowboys’ final four games. The Cowboys had hoped Free would be able to return at some point during the playoffs and started some on-field rehab last week before the loss to the Green Bay Packers.

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Free Out vs. Packers

Sunday, Jan. 11

"Cowboys inactives: Vaughan, Keith Smith, Anderson, Doug Free, Hawkins, Boatright, T. McClain," announced David Helman of DallasCowboys.com.

On Friday, Mike Fisher of FOX Sports confirmed Free was officially listed as doubtful on the Cowboys injury report:

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

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Free Out vs. Lions

Sunday, Jan. 4

"Cowboys inactives: Vaughan, Hamilton, Smith, Free, Hawkins, Boatright and Anderson," announced Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported on Friday that Free was doubtful to play:

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Free Misses Thursday's Practice

Thursday, Jan. 1

NFL Network's Desmond Purnell reported Free missed the team's Thursday practice.

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Free Not at Practice on Wednesday

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram provides an update on Free's status:

ESPN's Todd Archer previously reported Garrett was hopeful he would be able to give it a shot:

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Free Inactive for Week 17

Sunday, Dec. 28

David Helman of DallasCowboys.com announced Free would not play in the team's regular-season finale:

On Friday, Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News confirmed Free was doubtful:

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Jones Says Free Could Return for Week 17

Tuesday, Dec. 23

According to Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News, Jerry Jones hasn't ruled Doug Free out of the team's season finale against Washington:

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Free Out vs. Colts

Saturday, Dec. 20

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provides an update on Free's status:

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Free Listed as Doubtful

Friday, Dec. 19

Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News has Free's official status:

Machota also had the latest from Jerry Jones:

Machota had more detail Tuesday from Jones:

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“Doug has been working with this ankle, and it is a concern,” the Cowboys owner and general manager said on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. “I have every reason to believe, though, that by the time Sunday gets here that we’ll be able to get him out there and get some play out of him. That’s going to be the way this injury is probably for the rest of the year, to some degree.”

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Free Injures Ankle vs. Eagles

Monday, Dec. 15

Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Doug Free left the field during Sunday night's Week 15 game against the Philadelphia Eagles with an ankle injury.

DallasCowboys.com's Nick Eatman relayed the news of Free's status.

Free is the Cowboys' starting right tackle. The big men in the trenches have been the driving force paving the way for the NFL's leading rusher in DeMarco Murray, aiding a huge 2014 turnaround for America's Team.

The injury to Free presses Jermey Parnell into action.

There are enough pieces on Dallas' offensive line to tweak the game plan in the event that Parnell doesn't perform well. In any event, the unit should keep thriving with a balanced offensive attack, since quarterback Tony Romo has a plethora of skill players to throw to.