Dallas Cowboys DE Tyrone Crawford injures ankle, expected to be ready for Week 1

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Tyrone Crawford appeared to have escaped serious injury after he was carted off the field during Tuesday's practice.

Crawford underwent X-rays that revealed a lateral right ankle sprain, but team officials said he is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener against the New York Giants, multiple media outlets reported.

The injury occurred while Crawford was chasing down second-year running back Ezekiel Elliott. He appeared to be in excruciating pain and one teammate grabbed his helmet as Crawford lay prone on the field.

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Crawford underwent surgery on his right shoulder following last season. He registered 4.5 sacks despite sitting out the final two games of the regular season.

Dallas already has been beset with issues along its defensive line. Last month, defensive end Damontre Moore was suspended for the first two regular-season games of the 2017 season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Moore joined fellow Dallas defensive ends Randy Gregory and David Irving in being handed suspensions. Gregory has been banned for the season for multiple violations of the substance-abuse policy while Irving will miss the first four games for violating the substance-abuse policy.

The team did spend a first-round draft pick this year on a defensive end in former Michigan standout Taco Charlton.

Moore, who missed the entire 2013 season due to a torn Achilles, has appeared in 61 games for the Cowboys, starting 44. He has 12.5 career sacks, including a career-best 5.0 in 2015.

Dallas signed Crawford to a five-year, $45 million extension with $17.4 million guaranteed in 2015.