La’el Collins, Sean Lee to start Dallas Cowboys season on short-term injured reserve
The Dallas Cowboys will open the season with tackle La’el Collins and veteran linebacker Sean Lee on short-term injured reserve, according to a source.
Look for those changes to come on Sunday, as they not a part the the 16 moves the team made on Saturday to reach the NFL roster limit of 53.
A player must be on the final roster before he can be move to injured reserve. Both Collins and Lee will have to miss at least the first three games, starting with next Sunday’s season opener against the Rams in Los Angeles.
Collins is coming off the best season of his career as he was the team’s top offensive lineman in 2019, but he has been limited since the start of camp.
According to his agent Deryk Gilmore, Collins has been battling a hip injury, refuting reports of him coming to camp out of shape as the reason for him being idle.
Lee has not practiced since start of camp due to pelvic issue, ESPN has reported.
The Cowboys need to replace them on the roster. And more moves are coming.
The Cowboys plan to scan the list of players who recently have been waived and could also sign a veteran free agent to fill needs, most notably at safety.
The Cowboys, who began trimming the roster from 80 on Wednesday, made 16 moves on Saturday.
The cuts included tackle Isaac Alarcon, linebacker Francis Bernard, cornerback Deante Burton, defensive end Ron’Dell Carter, cornerback C.J. Goodwin, defensive tackle Justin Hamilton, defensive end Ladarius Hamilton, center Marcus Henry, receiver Jon’vea Johnson, wide receiver Tevin Jones, safety Luther Kirk, linebacker Justin March, fullback Sewo Olonilua, wide receiver Aaron Parker, cornerback Saivon Smith and cornerback Chris Westry.
A number of players could be brought back as soon as Sunday to fill the roster with spots as well as make up the practice squad, which was expanded from eight to 16 this season due to COVID-19 concerns.
Luke Gifford, receiver Ventell Bryant and cornerback Jourdan Lewis made the final 53 but were injured at the end of the training camp.
Highlights of the final roster
* Rookie seventh-round pick Ben DiNucci stuck as the third quarterback behind starter Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton.
* Rookie undrafted free agent Rico Dowdle making the team as the third running back following an impressive training camp behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
* The Cowboys kept four tight ends in Blake Jarwin, Blake Bell, Dalton Schultz and surprising undrafted rookie Sean McKeon. There are no fullbacks on the roster and the tight ends will handle that role when offense calls for it.
* Only three inside linebackers on the final roster are healthy in Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and Joe Thomas, so look for the Cowboys to make a move to bring Bernard or March back. Bernard is a practice-squad candidate if he doesn’t make the final roster.
* The team has openly acknowledged looking for added help at safety/cornerback so a move or two could be made there, namely with the aforementioned Lewis likely going to injured reserve.
* Alarcon, an international player, will be brought back as the exempted 17th member of the practice squad.
* Three undrafted rookies made the roster in Dowdle, McKeon and Terence Steele as one of five offensive tackles, including Tyron Smith, Colllins, Cam Erving and Brandon Knight.
* The roster does not include defensive end Randy Gregory, who was conditionally reinstated from suspension and won’t be able to practice until the week of Oct. 6. He won’t be able to play until Oct. 19.
This story was originally published September 5, 2020 at 4:05 PM.
