AP

The Cowboys may need to play the rest of the season without linebacker Sean Lee.

Lee suffered an injury to his right big toe in Sunday’s win at Carolina that could require season-ending surgery, ESPNDallas.com reports.

That news comes as a major surprise because Lee told the Dallas Morning News that he thought he’d be ready to play on Sunday against the Giants.

“I’m going to do what the doctors say and rehab it and see where I’m at, but I think I’ll be ready to roll,” Lee said. “I don’t think it is anything too serious.”

Apparently a more complete medical evaluation of Lee’s injury indicated that it’s much more serious than Lee realized. And the Cowboys may be without one of their most important players.