IRVING, Texas – It's unlikely the Cowboys can afford to leave Marcus Spears inactive again this weekend after another injury to a defensive lineman.
Defensive tackle Sean Lissemore was in a boot Monday at Valley Ranch after leaving Sunday's game with a high ankle sprain.
"We'll have to evaluate the extent of that injury," said head coach Jason Garrett of losing Lissemore. "He's done a real good job, as we've talked before. He can play some spots on the defensive front. He can play some nose, can play some end. He plays in the third-down situation. He's a jack-of-all-trades that's never real fancy but seems to make a lot of plays, both defending the run and also affecting the passing game. We're going to miss him."
Lissemore was injured on the first drive and seventh play of Sunday's game after tackling Ravens running back Ray Rice on a 2-yard gain.
The injury left only Kenyon Coleman, Jay Ratliff, Jason Hatcher, Tyrone Crawford and Josh Brent on the defensive line, impacting the Cowboys' ability to shift in and out.
The Cowboys elected to dress four running backs Sunday, and with the return of Ratliff and Coleman, Spears was a healthy scratch. Dallas kept Lissemore and Brent on the active roster, after they demonstrated their abilities in a more full-time role while Ratliff and Coleman were out.
"Spears was not active for the game and we anticipate him being back and going again," Garrett said. "We like the rotation we have there. The young guy, Tyrone Crawford, has done a nice job. He's done more and more as the season has gone on. Each of those guys has grown up in there. We're certainly going to miss Lissemore, but we're excited about the other guys, and he'll be back sooner rather than later.
