In the wake of Sean Lee‘s season-ending ACL injury, the Cowboys are weighing their options at the linebacker position, which includes eyeing some veteran free agents. According to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Dallas is evaluating Brian Urlacher and Jonathan Vilma, among others. Regarding Urlacher, Werder adds (via Twitter) that nothing is imminent, but that the former Bear “took notice” when Lee went down and a hole opened up in the Cowboys’ starting lineup.
Urlacher and Vilma are a couple of the more notable names available on a free agent market that also includes linebackers like Pat Angerer and Dan Connor. Still, even if the Cowboys decide to add one of those free agents, that player wouldn’t be relied upon to fill Lee’s role himself — Werder notes that the club figures to use a two-man platoon.
It’s also possible that the Cowboys will simply elect to roll with their in-house options. Although the team has watched tape and evaluated guys like Urlacher and Vilma, a Dallas source tells Werder that the Cowboys don’t have a ton of interest in either player (Twitter link). We’ll have to wait and see if that’s a smokescreen or an indication that the club will pass on veteran free agents.