Cowboys' Sean Lee, Chidobe Awuzie Designated for Return from IR After Injuries

The Dallas Cowboys are working toward a return for cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and linebacker Sean Lee, who have both entered the 21-day practice window after stints on injured reserve, the team announced Thursday.

The pair can be activated at any point within the three-week window, and the Cowboys will be forced to make room on their active roster upon their return. 

Awuzie, a second-round pick by the Cowboys in 2017, started all 16 games for the team last season and was on pace to do the same again in 2020 before he hurt his hamstring in a Week 2 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Through the first two weeks of the season, Awuzie posted three tackles and an interception.

In 2019, he had 79 combined tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception and a quarterback hit. 

Lee, a three-time Pro Bowler who is entering his 11th season in the league after he was drafted by Dallas out of Penn State in 2010, appeared in all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2019. He posted 86 combined tackles, four of which were for loss, a quarterback hit and an interception. He had surgery to repair a sports hernia in September and began the season on injured reserve. 

The returns of both players help to bolster a depleted Cowboys roster that has slipped in recent weeks, with their 2-4 start their worst since 2015. When Awuzie went down in Week 2, cornerback Anthony Brown was already out, and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch broke his collarbone in the season opener. Brown returned in Week 5, and Vander Esch played in the team's Monday night loss to the Arizona Cardinals. 

Hopefully the addition of two more everyday players can help the Cowboys right the ship.