The Dallas Cowboys had significant struggles on the defensive side last season, and it will be difficult for the linebackers to recover with Sean Lee out.
The Dallas Cowboys are looking to figure out a solution to their defensive woes, and it will not be any easier with inside linebacker Sean Lee out for the season again with a torn ACL.
Bruce Carter will start at outside linebacker, and he will look to bounce back after struggling to adjust to the new 4-3 scheme last season.
Rookie Anthony Hitchens is projected to take Lee’s place at inside linebacker, and he offers a hard-hitting presence that may bring much-needed intensity to the Cowboys defense. He will battle with Justin Durant for the job.
Durant has reportedly struggled to handle the tasks that come with the middle linebacker job, so he may see the bench again like last season when he was replaced by Kyle Wilber.
Wilber will start opposite Carter at outside linebacker, and he showed growth after moving to linebacker from defensive end last season.
DeVonte Holloman will also be in the mix for a starting linebacker spot, and his best shot will be at replacing Lee at middle linebacker.
Rolando McClain is expected to be a key reserve at linebacker, but he still has legal troubles to sort out. If the Cowboys ultimately decide that McClain is too much of a headache to deal with, Cameron Lawrence will likely take his spot.
Lawrence is fighting to stay on the roster since he has nothing to offer other than special teams experience. However, the Cowboys may choose to carry seven linebackers on the roster.
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