Cowboys LB Sean Lee leaves with a concussion

Sean Lee’s injury history grew on Sunday night.

The Dallas Cowboys’ weakside linebacker was diagnosed with a concussion after a collision with New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson in the first quarter. He didn’t return.

Lee, 29, must pass concussion protocol before returning to practice and game action. Thus, there’s a chance he could miss next Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. The Cowboys then have a bye week.

Lee is among the most talented players on the Cowboys, but staying on the field has been an issue his entire career. He has missed 34 regular-season games over six seasons.

Lee missed all of last season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the off-season. He has also missed games with injuries ranging from hamstring to a dislocated wrist to toe surgery.

Lee was injured in 2013 when the Cowboys last visited the Saints, straining his hamstring that sidelined him for five games.

Rookie Damien Wilson replaced Lee.

Lee’s injury was certainly a blow to the defense. Lee worked his way back into being the difference-making player he had been, and was excelling on the weakside in Rod Marinelli’s Tampa 2 scheme.

Lee set a “production points” record for his Week 2 performance against the Eagles, earning NFC defensive player of the week honors. He had a team-leading 14 tackles, including two tackles for loss, as well as an interception.

In other injury news, Cowboys reserve tight end James Hanna played through an ankle injury that limited him in the first half. Running back Lance Dunbar injured his knee on the opening kickoff return of the second half, as well, and wide receiver Brice Butler exited in the second half with a hamstring injury.

Darren McFadden served as the backup kick returner when Dunbar left, as receiver Lucky Whitehead was inactive for the game.

Pass rush

The Cowboys can’t wait to get Greg Hardy back. He returns Monday after serving a four-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy.

The Cowboys made only 28 sacks last season, and they had only three in the first three games of this season.

Their pass rush did improve against the Saints, at least early, with three sacks of Drew Brees.

Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, in his second season, earned his first regular-season sack. He dropped Drew Brees for a 9-yard loss on third-and-6 in the second quarter, forcing a punt. Lawrence recorded sacks in each of the Cowboys’ two playoff games last season.

Linebackers Damien Wilson and Anthony Hitchens also shared a sack on a blitz.

Defensive end Jack Crawford had the only second-half sack, coming in the third quarter. It was his third career sack.

Running game

Christine Michael made his long-awaited debut, though it wasn’t quite what he wanted.

The Cowboys didn’t put Michael into the game until the fourth quarter on a third-and-1 play, and the Saints stuffed Michael for a 1-yard loss. It was his only appearance.

Michael had been inactive for the first three games after the Cowboys acquired him in a trade with the Seahawks on Sept. 6.

The Cowboys finished with 28 rushes for 115 yards. Joseph Randle had 11 carries for 26 yards and a touchdown that originally ruled a fumble but overturned on replay. Darren McFadden had 10 carries for 31 yards, and Lance Dunbar had three carries for 54 yards, including a 45-yarder, before leaving with an injury.

This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 11:41 PM with the headline "Cowboys LB Sean Lee leaves with a concussion."