IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence had recent surgery on his back and should be on the field “when it matters,” according to a source.

DeMarcus Lawrence played in all 16 games in 2015, leading Dallas with eight sacks. Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

Speaking from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, coach Jason Garrett told dallascowboys.com, “We expect him to be back fairly soon. We’ll see. We don’t want to put it definitively, but we think he’s going to be OK.”

Lawrence, who did not miss a game, led the Cowboys in sacks in 2015 with eight, with seven coming in the final eight games of the season. A few days after the season, Lawrence had left-pinkie fusion surgery.

Lawrence is the second Cowboys defensive lineman known to have had a postseason surgery. Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford underwent a procedure on his right shoulder a few days after the season ended and is expected to be ready for the offseason program.

Lawrence missed the first seven games of his rookie season in 2014 because of surgery to repair a broken foot.

Quarterback Tony Romo had a CT scan on his left collarbone last week and is likely to have surgery to insert a plate to help fortify the area. Romo broke his collarbone twice last season and missed 12 games.