Dallas Cowboys News: Team Getting Healthy In Week 15, Important Defensive Player Could Return

Sean Lee Dallas Cowboys — Jeff Heath #38 of the Dallas Cowboys; Sean Lee #50 of the Dallas Cowboys and Jourdan Lewis #27 of the Dallas Cowboys are unable to keep Jimmy Graham #88 of the Seattle Seahawks from making a touchdown reception in the first half of a football game at AT&T Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Everything seems to be coming together for the Dallas Cowboys with three weeks left in the 2018 regular season. The team brings a five-game winning streak into Indianapolis for their matchup with the Colts, and they are getting healthy with the playoffs on the horizon.

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan that Sean Lee and Tavon Austin might both return to the field Sunday. Lee hasn’t played since Nov. 5 when he suffered a hamstring injury against the Tennessee Titans. Tavon Austin has been dealing with a groin injury for two months.

Zack Martin will be a game-time decision against the Colts. The guard hasn’t practiced this week after an MCL injury forced him to leave Dallas’ Week 14 contest with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on @1053thefan said "it looks like we're as healthy as we've been." Said he thinks there's a chance Sean Lee and Tavon Austin will play Sunday. "I'm more dubious about [Zack Martin]."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 14, 2018

Jason Garrett says Zack Martin not likely to practice today. Status for the game uncertain. Garrett says Martin is capable of playing in a game without work during the week, but the knee sprain is still a day to day situation. #cowboyswire
— Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) December 14, 2018

Martin still hasn’t missed a game, and his injury doesn’t appear to be serious. Austin gives the Cowboys another weapon, but he’s not exactly a game-changer with 185 yards from scrimmage in six games this season. Lee is the player who could come back and make a major impact for the Cowboys.

It’s somewhat ironic that Dallas began its winning streak when the linebacker stopped playing, but he remains one of the most important players on this team. Lee had 26 tackles and a half-sack in four games before getting hurt. Prior to this year, the defense had performed much worse with him off the field.

Dallas enters Week 15 with one of the NFL’s best defenses. Only the Baltimore Ravens have surrendered more points. The Cowboys are fourth in total defense and seventh in opponents’ yards per play. If you add Lee to a linebacking corps that includes Rookie Leighton Vander Esch, who leads the team with 108 tackles, Dallas will be even more dangerous in the playoffs.

The addition of Amari Cooper has improved Dallas’ offense, but the Cowboys are still winning games with their defense. They haven’t surrendered 30 points in any game. The Cowboys are 1-2 when giving up 24 points or more.

The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East with either a win over the Colts or losses by both the Philadelphia Eagle and Washington Redskins in Week 15.

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