The Cowboys’ chief concern right now is the health of linebacker Sean Lee, who suffered a knee injury at today’s Organized Team Activities. But the Cowboys also need to be concerned about what the league and the NFL Players Association have to say about the circumstances that led to Lee’s injury.
Specifically, the Cowboys could face discipline for the fact that rookie offensive lineman Zack Martin was blocking Lee and ended up on the ground on top of him on the play on which Lee suffered his knee injury. OTAs are supposed to be non-contact, and Martin and Lee clearly engaged with each other on the play, although Lee looked like he was trying to plant his feet and shift directions before he engaged with Martin, so his knee injury may have happened without contact.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said afterward that he has given proper instruction to his players about the rules on OTAs.
“We keep preaching, ‘Stay off the ground. Stay off the ground,’” Garrett said, via the Dallas Morning News. “That’s a really important thing. Injuries happen when guys hit the ground.”
Martin said he was disappointed to see Lee get hurt.
“I don’t really know what happened, two guys playing hard and running to the ball, so we’ll see what happens,” Martin said. “It sucks to see someone go down. It happens and I can only hope for the best.”
Right now, the severity of Lee’s injury isn’t known. But the Cowboys are fearing the worst.