With a long-term deal finally worked out, Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence will finally be getting a long-needed shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum this Wednesday. The procedure has been postponed the last two seasons while Lawrence waited for Dallas to extend his contract.
Lawrence and the Cowboys agreed to a five-year, $105 million deal last Friday. The early resolution this offseason allows DeMarcus to get his surgery and be ready to hopefully participate in training camp, but at worst be fully healed for the start of the 2019 season.
Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is set to have surgery on his injured shoulder on Wednesday, reports @AlbertBreer https://t.co/RyUouIvpA6
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 8, 2019
The injured left shoulder hasn’t stopped from Lawrence from having back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons the last two years. However, it has limited how much Dallas could use him on the right side of the line.
Now the Cowboys will be able to deploy Tank with more flexibility, which in turn allows them to utilize the rest of their pass rushers in their ideal spots.
Dallas stands to have a much deeper group at defensive end next season than in past years. Their trade for Robert Quinn gives DeMarcus the most accomplished wingman he’s had since entering the NFL.
If Randy Gregory is able to get off suspension, the depth chart would be filled out with him, free agent Kerry Hyder, Taco Charlton, and Dorance Armstrong.
But the most important move was getting this contract done with Lawrence, and early enough that he would be able to proceed with shoulder surgery and be ready for Week One.
Best wishes to DeMarcus Lawrence for Wednesday’s surgery and a speedy recovery!
So, if I understand this correctly, he waited 2 years to have the surgery so he could use it as a bargaining tool for his new contract? Just to give himself leverage? Wow. I guess it’s smart as a business move but pretty stupid from a personal health point of view. It’s sad that football has come to this. Greed influences everything, not that I have a problem with anyone getting as much money as the market bears but the whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth as far as the team I’ve loved since I was a kid. It’s too bad society cares more about professional athletes than it does for the people in the military who sacrifice so much for those people’s protection and freedom, often with life altering injuries. I guess I feel that way because as a medically retired Marine, I’m one of those people.
Remember that Lawrence’s contract issues go back two years. The injury occurred during the 2017 season, the last year of his rookie deal He wanted a long-term deal in 2018 but got franchised for the first time. They tried to work out a new deal but then it was too late, so the conversation got deferred until this year.
Surgeries and rehabilitation can go wrong. Lawrence wanted to make sure he got the guaranteed money in his new deal that he deserved before risking going under the knife. You can’t blame him for that.
I had forgotten about last year’s franchise tag. That does make sense that he put it off to play last year so you’re right, I don’t blame him. Thanks for clearing that up for me, Jess.
Jim