Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence Reportedly Coming off PUP and Could Play Week 1 Against Giants

The Dallas Cowboys may still manage to start one of the best edge rushers in football in their season opener.

Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is hopeful that he'll be able to play in the Cowboys' Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, according to the latest reports. Lawrence underwent shoulder surgery in April to repair a torn labrum.

He's expected to be removed from the physically unable to perform list in the near future.

#Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence (shoulder) is expected to come off the PUP list soon, source says. Lawrence will be limited at first but has been hoping to be ready for Week 1 vs. the #Giants and it looks like that’s a reasonable goal.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 19, 2019

Lawrence has been a force for the Cowboys over the last two years. Since the start of the 2017 season, he's racked up 24.5 sacks and 49 quarterback hits in 32 games.

His recent dominance in the trenches was enough to convince Jerry Jones and the Cowboys to ink him to a five-year, $105 million deal, making him the third-highest paid defensive player in football.

He's among a handful of defensive stars that the Cowboys have been missing. Others such as Sean Lee and Byron Jones have also dealt with injuries.

DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Byron Jones and Sean Lee should return to practice soon, Jason Garrett says
— Raymond Brown (@RaymondBrown__) August 19, 2019

It would certainly make things easier for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli if Lawrence was ready to suit up against the Giants. Fellow defensive end Robert Quinn is serving a two-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug violation, leaving the Cowboys rather short-staffed on the defensive line to start the season.

In an offseason where very little seems to have gone the Cowboys' way, this piece of news certainly helps provide some optimism for the upcoming 2019 campaign.