NFL

Cowboys Welcome Back DeMarcus Lawrence from Suspension

Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence completed his 4-game suspension.

On a day where Dez Bryant, Dan Bailey and Tony Romo didn't practice, the Cowboys welcomed back a key player to the field.

Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence served his 4-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and returned to practice for the first time since the regular season started.

Lawrence is clearly the team's top defensive lineman and will be a boost to the front seven. The Cowboys have six sacks on the season, which is tied for 24th in the NFL.

"He's certainly an experienced player. He had a really good training camp. So, he has some reps under his belt but he just has to get himself acclimated. A big thing for those guys coming back is the conditioning, so hopefully he'll benefit from the work today and progress as the week goes on," said head coach Jason Garrett.

"I feel like we'll get more pressure on the quarterback. I feel like he's a player that's always disruptive and always just around the quarterback and has a non-stop motor," said fellow defensive lineman Cedric Thornton.

Lawrence couldn't practice during the 4-game suspension so he's a bit rusty, but there's a bigger concern regarding his health.

"Well he's got a couple of things going on. He missed the time because of the suspension but he also has a little bit of a back injury that he's been working through. So we're hopeful he's able handle the work today and progress as it goes on," said Garrett.

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Combing the rust and the sore back, the Cowboys will work Lawrence back in slowly but he will play on Sunday against the Bengals.

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