IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys are taking it easy with linebacker Sean Lee by limiting him in this week's OTAs.
"We're keeping him as limited in practice just because we want to be slow with him," head coach Jason Garrett said. "Veteran player; knows what we want. So, we're really trying to be deliberate with him as he comes back."
Lee tore his left ACL, the third such tear in his career, last year on the first day of OTA's when then-rookie guard Zack Martin blocked him and the two slipped on the grass practice fields at Valley Ranch. Garrett praised the sixth-year veteran for striving to overcome the challenges of rehab.
"Sean's done a great job working to come back," Garrett said. "Mentally and emotionally, it was significant for him having that injury and then physically there's certainly a lot of work that goes into coming back. And he's handled all of that really, really well. His spirit was incredible after he had the injury. And his teammates and his coaches have seen him work very hard to get back to this point."
Lee has been involved in walk-throughs in the OTA's, but mostly has done individual work as he is still working his way into drills.
He's still working his way into drills. He's done some individual stuff. He's involved in the walkthroughs.
"I think he's handled all the work we've asked him to really, really well," said Garrett. "He's a very conscientious guy. It's very important to him to come back and play at a high level. It's very important for him to come back and contribute to this football team. We're trying to take the necessary steps. He's done everything we've asked him to do.
"We just think it's best for him to be in the walkthroughs and be involved in the individual periods and just see him move around and it certainly looks good. But he's definitely one of those guys that we're always dialing back as a coach."
Lee, who has missed 32 games since 2011 due to injury, is slated to play weakside linebacker in the Cowboys 4-3 front, a position with considerably less impact than the middle linebacker spot he has played since joining the Cowboys as a second-round pick in 2010.
