The fears of the Dallas Cowboys appear to have been realized.
According to Ed Werder of ESPN.com, the MRI on linebacker Sean Lee’s injured left knee confirmed he has suffered a torn ACL and will miss the entire 2014 season.
Lee collapsed to the ground during the team’s practice on Tuesday while attempting to defend a screen pass to DeMarco Murray. Cowboys first-round pick Zack Martin was out in front of Murray and went to engage Lee. However, Lee slipped and his leg buckled right as Martin began to contact Lee.
The Cowboys feared an ACL injury all along. The MRI just confirmed the initial prognosis.
It’s the third time Lee has suffered an ACL injury and second time it’s happened to his left knee. Lee tore his right ACL in college at Penn State and partially tore his left ACL in 2009. He’s had injury after injury in four seasons with the Cowboys. When he’s been healthy he’s been among the best linebackers in the game. However, those instances have been too few and far between.
Lee had 99 tackles and four interceptions in just 11 games for Dallas last season. Losing Lee creates a massive hole in the middle of the Cowboys defense.