The Dallas Cowboys defense was better than expected during the 2014 season despite the absence of star linebacker Sean Lee and poor play from cornerback Morris Claiborne.
Lee is said to be “ahead of target” according to vice president Stephen Jones as he recovers from his second torn ACL. The Cowboys expect Lee to be a full participant once OTAs get underway. The Cowboys are hopeful to resign Rolando McClain and slide Lee over to the weak side of the defense.
“We’ll put him in the best spots, but that has certainly been talked about — Sean at weak,” Jones said at the NFL Combine via ESPN. “But that doesn’t mean he will, for sure, be there. We’re kind of looking at a group of guys who can do all of them.”
While Lee’s recovery may be going well the same cannot be said for Claiborne.
The recoever of Claiborne from a torn patellar tendon has been slow as expected. He may not be ready for training camp and could end up on the physically unable to perform list.
“Of course it is (a concern),” Jones said. “But you never know when a player is going to turn the rock over and obviously getting him beefed up and ready to go. We’ve got great trainers, great rehab people, great strength and conditioning people and he needs to get in line and do the right things and good things will happen for him.”
