It appears that veteran linebacker Sean Lee will be returning for a 10th season with the Dallas Cowboys, albeit with a reduced contract.
The Dallas Morning News reports that the Cowboys and Lee are currently hammering out a deal beneficial to both sides.
Lee, who will turn 33 in July, is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $7 million.
At the end of the 2018 season, Lee told reporters that if the Cowboys wanted him to return, he realized it would likely be in a substitute role. He also implied he would be willing to play for less money to reflect his diminished role with the team.
Lee’s deal could be restructured, providing the team with sizable cap savings.
Two different hamstring injuries limited Lee to seven games last season. The former Penn State standout started five games for the Cowboys in 2017, but lost his starting job to rookie Leighton Vander Esch, who earned a Pro Bowl berth after leading the team with 140 tackles.
Lee, a Pro Bowler in 2015 and ’16, took an active role in the development of Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith while he was out of the lineup. Lee finished with 30 tackles last season after producing at least 100 tackles each of the previous three seasons.
