Linebacker Keith Brooking hasn’t practiced since the second day of training camp, when he suffered a hamstring injury, leaving second year Sean Lee to take the reps at inside linebacker opposite of Bradie James. In Brooking’s absence, Lee has flourished--so much so, in fact, that many are questioning whether, when Brooking returns, his spot will still be there.
Head coach Jason Garrett doesn’t believe this is an issue, however.
"I think Brooking knows that he's a big part of our football team," Garrett said, per ESPN Dallas. "The big thing with him simply is to get himself healthy. You talk about being obsessed, he's obsessed with that. I was in a defensive meeting [Sunday night] and in the middle of the meeting he got up, walked to the back of the room and started stretching.
“It's 9:30 at night. He just has that way about him and is the reason why he's so good.”
According to Garrett, Brooking will remain the starter, with Lee available to relieve he and the fellow veteran inside linebacker, James.
"He understands it's a competitive business," Garrett said. "To make teams, to be starters on teams, to have a role on teams, he gets all that. But I believe he knows that he's going to be a part of what we're doing and he has a significant role on our football team."
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