The Dallas Cowboys continue to go in the wrong direction with their pass-rush. Before long, they could be backed into a corner.

The Cowboys are bracing for starting left-side defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence to be suspended the first four games of the 2016 season, sources said, after he violated the league's substance abuse policy again. Lawrence led the Cowboys with eight sacks in 2015.

The Cowboys were already preparing to play the first four games without defensive end Randy Gregory, who also is suspended for violating the NFL's drug policy.

Will the Cowboys be forced to actually call agent Drew Rosenhaus to start contract negotiations for the return of Greg Hardy? That still remains highly unlikely.

This didn't come as a surprise to the Cowboys. They knew this was coming. Lawrence has failed multiple tests. So, the club won't overreact and turn to Hardy.

The Cowboys had their fill of Hardy last year in a season filled with turmoil that has left coach Jason Garrett not wanting any part of him in 2016.

Hardy underperformed on the field in 2015 and became a constant headache for Garrett, who has gone out of his way not to say anything positive about him this offseason.

The Cowboys' defensive line is depleted and they need someone - anyone - who can pressure the quarterback. Over the last two seasons, only Atlanta and San Diego have combined for fewer sacks than the Cowboys' 59.

The Cowboys are now more likely to use their No. 4 overall pick on a defensive end, such as Ohio State's Joey Bosa, after losing Lawrence, who was already recovering from back surgery.

Cowboys defensive end Jeremy Mincey - still unsigned in free agency - said at the end of last season that the defensive line needed to "grow up - immediately."

That hasn't happened. And certainly Hardy didn't help the cause when he was inserted into the equation a year ago.

I remember Lawrence and Gregory following Hardy off the field - chatting it up - early in training camp last year. The two young ends appeared to be following a leader.

That never developed. If anything, Hardy became the wrong kind of influence off the field.

The Cowboys still aren't desperate enough to re-sign Hardy. They may never be.