FRISCO -- Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence said he'll remain in Dallas with the team when he begins his four-game suspension to start the season. But what will happen when he returns to the field?
"I'm going to have a big impact," Lawrence said. "It's just all about me working on what I have to work on."
Lawrence, who led the Cowboys with eight sacks a year ago, is suspended because he violated the NFL's substance abuse policy. He'll miss the first month of the season before returning Week 5 against Cincinnati on Oct. 9.
Lawrence isn't allowed to practice with the Cowboys while he's suspended but he can attend team meetings and be at the facility. He said he already has a plan mapped out with the club's strength coaches about what he'll do while on suspension.
"The NFL allows me to be here so I'm going to be here with my team where I'm supposed to be," Lawrence said. "I'm going to be out here working each day."
It would make sense for the Cowboys to get Lawrence some extra playing time the final two preseason games because he soon won't be allowed to practice with Dallas.
But Lawrence said he's not pushing for more snaps.
"I don't feel like the preseason is huge," he said. "It's just me working on my fundamentals and being able to help these young guys get ready for the first four."
As Lawrence gets closer to the start of his suspensions, he's tried to remain optimistic.
"I think it has already hit me," Lawrence said. "I mean, y'all (the media) come over here and ask me all of these questions about the first four. When I'm on the field, I don't think about missing the first four. I just think about going fast, but when I get back in here, I'm like, 'Dang, here it goes.' But I still try to keep a positive mindset, just try to do whatever the team needs me to do to help out."
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