The Dallas Cowboys are preparing to be without their two best edge rushers for at least their Week 5 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers — and possibly longer. Lawrence is reportedly treating a Lisfranc injury and will be out for several weeks, while Parsons has an ankle sprain and most likely won’t play in Week 5. Both players were spotted by CBS Sports wearing walking boots on Monday.
Head coach McCarthy confirmed that Parsons has a sprained ankle but would not elaborate on the exact nature of Lawrence’s injury, nor did he definitively say whether the team would place him on injured reserve.
“The specifics of it, I think that’s more for him to answer,” McCarthy said when asked if Lawrence’s issue was a Lisfranc injury. “I know the second opinion is complete. So it will be several weeks.”
Parsons, for his part, said he feels he is to let his team down by missing a game due to injury for the first time in his career.
“It’s just frustrating really,” Parsons said. “I put a lot of effort and energy into being ready for the team, so it hurts me. I feel like I’m letting people down. I kind of [thought] of myself as [being] invincible for a moment. It’s humiliating. It’s humiliating. … It’s part of that test. Faith, keeping that faith alive. Come back strong.”
For a team that already lost rotation edge Sam Williams for the season during training camp, it’s a brutal pair of injuries. The Cowboys in recent seasons have arguably had the league’s top pass rusher, but will currently be without their top five edge rushers from last season. (Priests, Lawrence and Williams, plus Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong, who both left the team in free agency.)
“It’s definitely the unfortunate part of our game. Definitely tougher with those two guys being on our football team and especially being in the same position,” McCarthy said of losing both players at the same time. “But that’s what this game is about. That’s what this league is about. It takes a lot of players to win in this league. Week in and week out.
“So, it creates a great opportunity for others. And that’s really our approach. And, obviously, we have to make some roster adjustments. We’re still kind of working through that.”
The only other edge rushers on the roster are second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland, Chauncey Golston, Tyrus Wheat and practice-squad pick Carl Lawson. Kneeland already had a bigger-than-expected role early in his rookie year, and will now be on an even more expanded roster of snaps.
“I really like what (I’ve seen from) Marshawn, just how he’s reacted to everything,” McCarthy said of the rookie. “You know, every time he’s given more responsibility, he just does it with the right attitude and great energy.”
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