Lawrence Out With Broken Foot

The injury bug has caught hold once more at the Cowboys’ training camp, and it claimed its most high-profile player to date on Tuesday.

DeMarcus Lawrence, the team’s No. 34 overall pick in May’s draft, suffered a broken right foot during the Cowboys’ afternoon practice, according to multiple reports late Tuesday night. The injury could force him out for the next eight to 12 weeks, which would keep him out of at least the first month of the regular season.

Lawrence suffered the injury in two-on-two pass rush drills at about the halfway point of practice. The rookie was working against Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith, who dumped him to the ground before he came up limping.

Immediately after practice, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said Lawrence was on his way to get X-rays on the foot.

“The foot is getting X-rayed, but the ankle – it looked like he rolled his ankle a little bit,” Jones said. “Basically, the foot was pretty touchy, so we thought we would X-ray it.”

Lawrence joins the likes of Matt Johnson, Ben Gardner and Terrell McClain on the list of players to leave practice with an injury. The second-round pick is far-and-away the most noteworthy name to leave the field.

The news comes as an especially big blow to the Cowboys’ hopes of improving their pass rush. Lawrence was drafted specifically to play the right end position in Rod Marinelli’s defensive scheme. He was working as a second-teamer behind veteran Jeremy Mincey, but the Cowboys had high hopes Lawrence would make an immediate impact.

Asked about it last week, Lawrence himself set his expectation for his rookie campaign at 10 or more sacks.