Report: Cowboys fear Lee has torn ACL

Sean Lee gets pancaked here by Zack Martin on Tuesday. (NFL.com)

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While Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee, who badly hurt himself during the first day of OTAs, underwent an MRI on his knee on Tuesday afternoon, it sounds like the team won't update his condition until Wednesday.

But multiple outlets are reporting that the team is fearful that Lee has torn his ACL, and ESPN's Ed Werder reported late Tuesday night that Lee was told that the MRI confirmed the torn ACL and that he is expected to miss the 2014 season.

During Tuesday's practice, running back DeMarco Murray took a screen pass from Brandon Weeden, and with Lee running over to make a play, he slipped just before he was hit by first-round pick, guard Zack Martin. It appeared that the knee injury happened just before Martin smacked Lee.

"I don't really know what happened, two guys playing hard and running to the ball, so we'll see what happens,” Martin said, via the Dallas Morning News. “It sucks to see someone go down. It happens and I can only hope for the best.”

With Lee on the ground, safety J.J. Wilcox slapped his hands together in anger, and safety Barry Church put his hands on his knees with his head down before forcefully unstrapping his helmet (you can watch video of the play here).

Wrote CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora: "Given that this injury was suffered during an OTA, which is supposed to be contact-free, the NFLPA could investigate the Cowboys, as Lee tumbled with Martin. However, it sounds like a freak accident at this point in which Lee slipped, and he has absolved any teammate or coaches in explaining the circumstances of the injury."

"Sean's had to deal with injuries in college and the NFL," coach Jason Garrett said. "He's done everything he can to get himself ready to play. He's as mentally tough of an individual as I've ever been around. He puts his best foot forward and strives to be his best. I don't anticipate this being any different."

Lee, entering his fifth year in the league, has never played a full 16-game season. He's missed 15 combined contests in the last two seasons.

"I need to find a way to stay healthy, whether it's finding a way to be stronger and not having the hamstring deal or it's hopefully having a little bit better luck," Lee said in February. "I need a combination of both going forward."

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Bears WR Domenik Hixon tears right ACL for third time, indicates he will retire



Domenik Hixon's days in the NFL seem to be over after he suffered a torn right ACL for the third time in his career on Tuesday. Here is what the Bears wideout and kick returner wrote on Facebook:"I tore my ACL today for the 3rd time today! I'm disappointed that I won't be playing for a bears team that has the players and coaches to WIN the Super Bowl. I thank God for letting me live my dream of playing in the NFL for 8 years plus. It has truly been FUN!"The injury occurred during the day's OTAs. Hixon previously tore the same ligament in the same knee in 2010 and 2011.



It's hard not to feel bad for a guy when stuff like this happens three times in four years. Hixon signed a one-year deal with the Bears in March. He was a special teams player for the majority of his career. His career year on offense came in 2008 when he caught 43 passes for 596 yards and two touchdowns. He also won two Super Bowl rings while with the Giants.