Sean Lee Concussion Hit Will Not Prevent Him From Playing

The Sean Lee concussion hit a couple of weeks ago caused a bit of concern for the Dallas Cowboys, but he is cleared and will be making a return this weekend, according to a report from ESPN.

When the Cowboys played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, Lee was cleared to play. It was an extremely close loss, so the presence of the versatile linebacker might have made a big difference on the outcome of the game. However, the coaching staff opted to keep Lee on the sidelines. They felt that it was better to be safe since the former Penn State star has suffered two concussions in a span of five weeks.

Since they are trying to save their season, Dallas tested out Lee a bit more this week. He was able to go through three full practices without feeling the effects of the concussion. Since Lee was able to practice at full speed, the Cowboys coaching staff feel confident enough that he is ready to play against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Though you would think that he would be playing a little more carefully, Lee states that he does not fear another concussion hit. The Pennsylvania native refuses to change up his playing style. Lee rightfully feels that he would not be the same productive player that he can be if he were to play a bit more cautiously. Instead of changing his style of play, the 29-year-old is going to use a specially made helmet.

Lee’s return from a concussion hit should be quite interesting. There are those that feel that Rolando McClain plays a lot better when Lee is not on the field. McClain played noticeably better against the Buccaneers than he did against the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks. The former University of Alabama star made eight tackles against Tampa.

One of the theories floating around as to why McClain plays better without Lee is because he is not relying on Lee to make the big plays. Other Cowboys have confessed that Lee is so reliable that they sometimes assume that he is going to make up for their mistakes. In order for Dallas to do well, McClain needs to feel that he does not have a safety net in Lee.

Another theory as to why McClain and Lee are not playing that well together is the fact that they are both better off at the middle linebacker position. Lee, the more versatile of the two, shifted to the weak side linebacker position to accommodate McClain. The two of them play together on nickel packages, where Anthony Hitchens is replaced by a defensive back.

The Cowboys are going to need McClain and Lee to gel and to do it quickly. Dallas is in the midst of trying to save their season. Even with a 2-7 record, they still have a chance of winning the NFC East and grabbing a spot in the playoffs. Dez Bryant has already made his return from a foot injury. Now, star quarterback Tony Romo will be back on the field after missing seven straight games due to an injured collarbone.

The Cowboys should be fine again with Romo and Bryant back. However, Dallas is not going anywhere unless their 17th ranked defense can hold up their end of the bargain.

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