Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee was forced to miss the team’s final three games with a strained neck ligament, suffered in the December 9 loss to the Bears in Chicago, but head coach Jason Garrett said he will not need offseason surgery.
"We think this is a time thing," Garrett said, per ESPN Dallas. "We don't think it's a surgery thing."
Lee finishes the 2013 season with 99 tackles, six passes defensed and a team-high four interceptions. In addition to the the time missed as result of the neck injury, Lee missed three games earlier in the year with a hamstring issue.
On Sunday night, Lee was replaced by rookie DeVonte Holloman, a sixth round pick out of South Carolina, and Holloman fared well. The rookie finished with 11 tackles, one for a loss, and a pair of sacks.
"Seemed like he handled the situation well," Garrett said. "He is a young player and really hasn't played that much linebacker. He was a safety when we drafted him who played down around the line of scrimmage. The strides that he made over the course of the season to be able to handle that responsibility is really impressive."
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