Rolando McClain Illness: Updates on Cowboys Star's Status and Return

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain is listed as active for the team's playoff game against the Detroit Lions, after missing their Week 17 clash. McClain would later leave the contest and not return.

Continue for updates.

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McClain Active vs. Lions, Leaves Game, Will Not Return

Sunday, Jan. 4

Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com confirmed that Rolando McClain is active for Sunday's game vs. Detroit.

However, McClain would later go to the locker room after suffering dehydration, only later to be ruled out, via Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News:

After the win, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reported the Cowboys said he had “concussion-like symptoms."

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McClain Probable vs. Lions

Friday, Jan. 2

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press has an update on McClain's status for Sunday:

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McClain Out for Week 17 With Illness

Saturday, Dec. 27

Dallas Cowboys star linebacker Rolando McClain did not travel with the team to its Week 17 game due to illness. 

Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram provided the details on McClain's injury:

Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has more detail:

The Cowboys defense was supposed to be putrid this year, coming off a previous season in which the unit yielded points in bunches. However, the low-risk, high-reward trade to acquire McClain proved to be one of the offseason's best moves.

McClain was technically retired at the time as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, but he came to Dallas ready to roll, galvanizing the Cowboys into exceeding expectations on his side of the ball.

Although he did go down with a right knee injury in Week 8's loss to the Arizona Cardinals, McClain was bailed out by the fact that the next game was against the Jacksonville Jaguars, followed by a bye week. It is discouraging, though, that McClain has yet again left the field with another health issue.

The linebacker corps is already without another star in Justin Durant, so America's Team can ill afford to lose McClain for a prolonged period of time. Should that be the case, versatile rookie Anthony Hitchens has proved capable of filling in and making the defensive calls.

But Dallas has to be wondering how good its defense could have been had it had a fully healthy McClain, Durant and Sean Lee as starting linebackers.