DeMarcus Lawrence looked impressive in return from broken foot

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Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence has been the unquestioned leader of the Dallas Cowboys defensive line and the best player on the defensive unit for years. When he went down with a broken foot just before the Cowboys’ Week 2 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers, it was a crippling blow to the team’s run defense and their ability to pressure the quarterback.

Lawrence made his return in Week 13 against the New Orleans Saints. Being out for nearly three months is detrimental to any player seeing as the best way to stay in football shape is to, well, play football. Don’t tell that to Lawrence though, as the former All-Pro looked like he had never missed any time in the Cowboys’ 27-17 victory against the Saints.

His impact began on the very first drive of the game. After stopping running back Mark Ingram for a minimal two-yard gain on second and 12, Lawrence assisted safety Jayron Kearse in bringing down running back Ty Montgomery for a six-yard loss on third and 10.

Lawrence had several other plays that impacted the game. Mostly, it was keeping Saints quarterback Taysom Hill off his mark which he did so by registering a team-high six pressures. Lawrence almost had a sack-fumble in the fourth quarter but it was overturned to an incomplete pass.

What made Lawrence’s return so impressive is that he made his presence felt while only playing 53% of the Cowboys’ 70 defensive snaps (37). Lawrence had two pass breakups and continued to set the edge against the run, a skill he has mastered.

He was simply happy to be back and competing with his teammates which he talked about after the game.

“It was electric,” Lawrence said. “Just to play with the guys, at the level they’re playing with, and to be out there and have a little impact on the game is amazing. I’m just glad to be back. Thankful I can play this game of football that I love.

“Glad we came home with the win.”

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who stepped into the interim head coach role due to Mike McCarthy testing positive for COVID, had Lawrence on a pitch count. He expected Lawrence to look rusty in his return, but that wasn’t the case.

“I was very excited to see him,” Quinn said. “He’s got such a quickness and violence with his hands and his play style. So I was expecting he would look rusty, and he did not. It was a difficult night, chasing and chipping on the edges to go but his attitude and his mindset, and now I’m hopeful we can keep stacking weeks and weeks as we’re building and his playtime will increase.”

The Cowboys have three NFC East games to close out the month of December. They will enjoy a mini bye before their Week 14 matchup with the Washington Football Team on December 12 and will face the New York Giants and Washington again in Week 15 and 16.

Dallas will need Lawrence to keep doing what he does, and coupling that with the returns of defensive tackle Neville Gallimore and likely defensive end Randy Gregory next week, the Cowboys defensive front will be much more formidable as they look to wrap up the division and land one of the top seeds in the NFC for the playoffs.