Both DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons exited the Cowboys’ Week 4 win, and their respective injuries threaten to leave Dallas short-handed along the edge for a notable period. Parsons’ exact recovery timeline is unclear at this point, but Lawrence should not be expected back on the field soon.
Lawrence is dealing with a Lisfranc injury, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports. He adds the affected bones were not displaced when the 32-year-old went down, and as a result, surgery will not be required. While that is a positive development, Archer still notes a four to eight week recovery is in store. As a result, Lawrence is a strong injured reserve candidate.
IR would guarantee at least a four-week absence, but if his prognosis is confirmed, it would come as no surprise if the Cowboys took that route with Lawrence. The four-time Pro Bowler leads the team with three sacks this season, so his absence would be felt with or without Parsons in the fold. The fact the latter is also in line to miss time compounds the Cowboys’ situation in the edge-rush department. Sam Williams is out for the year, so Chauncey Golston and Marshawn Kneeland will be counted on to handle large workloads moving forward.
The free-agent market is thin at the moment regarding veteran edge-rushers, and Haason Reddick represents a hypothetical trade target as his Jets holdout continues. Dallas is not interested in a Reddick pursuit, however, so the team’s in-house options will be entrusted to fill in for Lawrence and Parsons over the interim. The Cowboys rebounded on defense in their Thursday night win against the Giants, but the unit will still face questions moving forward, given its injury situation.
Lawrence has remained a full-time starter over the past several years, and 2021 was the last time he was sidelined for an extended period. The Boise State product is a pending free agent, making him one of the players whose futures will be determined by how the Cowboys handle a Parsons extension next offseason. Lawrence — who has spent his entire 11-year career in Dallas — will see his market value take a hit with a lengthy absence, but he should be able to return later in the season.
