Multiple Dallas Cowboys players are heading into the postseason ready to take on the Green Bay Packers despite the odds stacked against them early on.
Although injuries are the most unfortunate part of the business, the drive and motivation define the comeback stories for most players. Three players have a special bond and perspective going into Sunday’s game.
The Unlikely Trio of Jourdan Lewis, Tony Pollard, and Terence Steele
Ahead of this season, Jourdan Lewis, Tony Pollard, and Terence Steele were all working to return from season-ending injuries from the 2022 season.
Lewis suffered a horrific Lisfranc injury last October and returned to the field in Week 3 against the Cardinals, putting 336 days between the day he was injured and his return.
Steele suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 14 of the 2022 season, making 273 days between the day he was injured and his return.
Lastly, Pollard suffered a fractured left leg and high ankle sprain in the Cowboys’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers last January, placing 231 days between the day he was injured and his return.
Although they are all in different position groups and suffered various injuries, they all had one thing in common: get back to the game in time for the 2023 season.
Their brotherhood grew stronger this offseason as they set their sights on their goal to get back to the field together.
All three of the veteran players say their brotherhood in the rehab room acted as motivation for all of them to get back sooner.
Jourdan Lewis’ Extra Motivation
Lewis says Steele and Pollard worked with Britt Brown, the Cowboys’ director of rehabilitation, before him and would motivate him to do the work even on his lowest days.
“They would go before me,” said Lewis, adding, “I see how beat they were, and I was like, ‘Damn, it’s gonna be a long day,’ but they did it, they got through it, so I gotta push too.”
Seeing how Pollard was moving and cutting around and how Steele was setting and running despite their injuries was even more motivation for him.
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“It was my turn to keep up. So it was just like a toddler seeing their older sibling do things, and they want to do it and emulate it and stuff like that… It was a really good feeling to see those guys do what they,” said Lewis.
The cornerback has not kept it a secret that he struggled with the lows that come with rehabbing an injury, but he says watching the other guys in their trio gave him extra firepower.
He discussed working in the over 100-degree Dallas heat with Brown, saying that he would tell himself if Pollard and Stelle could withstand the heat with the rehab, he could too.
No Bad Days for Steele
As for Steele, he says the three would push each other, especially when working with Brown.
“TP was big [for me]. Me pushing him and him pushing me, and J-Lew also right there. J-Lew worked his butt off every day I came in. That was really motivating for me,” said Steele.
The offensive tackle said they all feed off each other’s energy to keep the reminder of their common goal to get back as fast as possible throughout their extensive rehab work.
Steele says he appreciated that throughout that time, no one came in and “had a bad day” because of the mindsets they all pushed each other to keep.
He witnessed firsthand the work his teammates put in and says he can see the payoff for everyone now.
“To see them healthy this deep into the season is awesome. I know the kind of work they put in. I was there right beside them every day, so I’m just super happy for them,” said Steele.
Hitting Timely Strides
Fast-forward to this week, and all three guys have returned to their respective crafts on their sides of the ball and are hitting their strides at the perfect time ahead of the playoffs.
Lewis had an interception, a forced fumble, and a recovery within the last two weeks of the regular season.
Although it was a process to get where he is now physically and mentally, he says it feels like he’s playing with house money now.
“It feels good to know I can play at that level again,” said Lewis, adding, “It’s just a confidence booster to know that you came from an injury like that and being able to play at that level.”
On the other side of the ball, despite early struggles, the production isn’t slowing down the Steele or Pollard. It’s only getting stronger for both offensive starters.
Steele played 1,187 offensive snaps, which is tied for the most by an offensive tackle this season.
Meanwhile, Pollard is coming off his best game against Washington and looking like himself again with the explosion that got him the starting running back position this season.
Steele says he plays harder for him now, being able to help control the blocks that Pollard needs to be successful.
As for Lewis on the other side of the ball, he says it’s still a full circle moment for him to watch Steele on the offensive line blocking for Pollard, setting up a running attack.
“It felt amazing. It felt really good to see the way they’re playing. We want to play complimentary football, so it gives us an extra oomph to see those guys running the ball like that,” said Lewis.
Now, all three of them are preparing for their postseason return and can look back at the journey of highs and lows it took for them to get to this point, but it’s far from being over.
“We gonna look at this in retrospect when the season is over, praying that we’re champions, and we’re definitely going to talk about it,” said Lewis.
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