Dallas Cowboys' DeMarcus Lawrence suffers broken foot, out several weeks

Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys star defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence suffered a broken foot during Wednesday's practice that will sideline him for multiple weeks.

League sources told ESPN, NFL Media and the Dallas Morning News that Lawrence is expected to miss between six and eight weeks after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his foot. The injury will require surgery that, if all goes well, should allow him to return to the field in November.

Lawrence was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice session, but the pass rusher later underwent an MRI that revealed the severity of the foot injury.

The 29-year-old Lawrence didn't practice for most of the Cowboys' training camp due to off-season back surgery, but he notched five total tackles, one forced fumble and two quarterback pressures last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Lawrence, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has recorded 45.5 sacks over 97 career games with the Cowboys.

Dallas also could be without its second-best pass rusher, Randy Gregory, this week against the Los Angeles Chargers. Gregory currently is in the NFL's COVID-19 protocols.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy remains uncertain whether Gregory can return from the reserve/COVID-19 list before the team's trip to Los Angeles for Sunday's matchup.

"If you look at the history, it's been 10 days [with] pretty much everybody we've dealt with in the COVID protocol," McCarthy said. "We'll just see how it goes."

With Lawrence out and Gregory's status in question, the Cowboys could lean on Dorance Armstrong and Tarell Basham as their starters. Bradlee Anae and Chauncey Golston likely would serve as their backups.