Dallas Cowboys defense could get big lift on defense vs. Washington Redskins

Linebacker Sean Lee has felt good in practice this week and is likely to be available Sunday against the Washington Redskins.

Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said a final decision hasn’t been made but “so far, so good.”

Lee has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury. In his place, rookie Leighton Vander Esch has excelled. Vander Esch and fellow linebacker Jaylon Smith lead the Cowboys with 50 tackles each.

But Lee’s experience and leadership for an NFC East road game in Washington would be invaluable, Marinelli said. The emergence of Vander Esch stepping in and providing more than reliable depth allows for Lee to be eased back into action without playing as much as he normally would.

“The veteran part of Sean, the leadership, that presence, his presence is so good,” Marinelli said. “He’s decided he’s ready to go. But we’ll wait to the end of the week [to decide].”

This story was originally published October 18, 2018 at 3:42 PM.