Sean Lee Injury: Updates on Cowboys LB's Concussion and Return

Mike ChiariNov 8, 2015

Sean Lee suffered a concussion during the Dallas Cowboys' Week 9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and subsequently missed Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, he is ready to return.

Continue for updates.

Lee Active for Week 11

Sunday, Nov. 22

The Cowboys announced Lee is active to play against the Miami Dolphins.

Latest on Lee's Practice Status

Friday, Nov. 20

The Cowboys announced Lee practiced in full this week.

Lee Could Have Played in Week 10

Thursday, Nov. 19

Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones confirmed Lee was cleared to play last week, but the team held him out as a "precaution," according to Bill Jones of CBS 11 in Dallas.

Garrett Speaks on Lee's Recovery

Monday, Nov. 16

Head coach Jason Garrett told reporters Lee has passed the league's concussion protocol and that the team expects the linebacker to practice.

“We are optimistic,” Garrett said. “We will take the situation day by day. We anticipate him practicing on Wednesday.”

Lee Comments on Recovery

Tuesday, Nov. 10

"I'm doing well," Lee said, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. "I feel good. Thursday or Friday, I'll know a lot more, to be honest."

Lee's Career Has Been Plagued By Injury

The Cowboys selected Lee in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft, and he burst onto the scene in a big way in 2011 to the tune of 103 tackles and four interceptions.

Ever since then, however, the former Penn State standout has been on the shelf more often than not.

From 2012 through 2014, Lee played in just 17 of a possible 48 regular-season games. He missed the entire 2014 campaign after tearing his ACL in OTAs, but he came back with a vengeance early in 2015.

The 29-year-old star registered 33 tackles, one sack and one interception through the season's first three games, but he then suffered a concussion against the New Orleans Saints in Week 4.

Although Lee was able to work his way back, it seemed inevitable that another injury would creep up at some point because of the bad luck he has had in recent years.

That has led some, including ESPN's Skip Bayless, to wonder if he will ever be able to remain healthy through a significant stretch of games:

The Cowboys may be wondering the same thing, as their reliance on Lee hasn't paid off over the past four seasons.

Even so, Lee's teammates have the utmost respect for him because of what he brings to the table when he is able to compete out on the field, according to 103.3 FM ESPN (h/t Mark Lane of Fox Sports Southwest):

That respect goes all the way to the top, as well. Per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan that he thinks the world of Lee:

While it seems as though everyone in the Cowboys organization is fully cognizant of just how valuable Lee can be, that value has only been seen for a small fraction of the time he has been part of the league.

Dallas is used to finding secondary options to step in for Lee, and if the linebacker misses time in the future, head coach Jason Garrett will look upon the likes of rookie Damien Wilson and Andrew Gachkar as players who must step up.

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