'Stud' Terence Steele: Cowboys 'Secret' to Winning Injury Return

The Dallas Cowboys are getting right tackle Terence Steele back from an ACL tear following an offseason of continuous rehabilitation work.

Dallas Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele was putting together a compelling case for being Pro Bowler in 2022.

In 439 pass-blocking snaps, Steele allowed just one sack, according to Pro Football Focus. Only five other tackles in the NFL can say they allowed one sack or fewer in as many snaps. However, Steele's 2022 campaign was cut short in Week 13 against the Houston Texans after tearing his ACL.

Now after his recovery — which was faster than head coach Mike McCarthy said he had ever seen before — Steele and his "battle wound," as he called the scar from his surgery, are ready to go for Week 1 against the New York Giants.

"Surprised?" Steele said when asked if it was surprising how quickly he recovered. "No, just because I know the work I put in. I'm just happy it all came to fruition."

Steele's grueling return to the field didn't come without both mental and physical hardships. He said the biggest thing that ate him up about the injury is that he wasn't able to be out there with his teammates for the final four games of the season.

Dallas' fourth-year tackle thanked Cowboys associate athletic trainer and director of rehabilitation Britt Brown for all the help in his recovery process. Brown's ability to relate to players and motivate them to work hard is what makes him so good at his job, Steele said.

McCarthy said Steele, who didn't spend a single day on the physically unable to perform list, is in the trainer's room daily, where the medical staff prepares him for the day's practice through a series of range-of-motion exercises and massages.

McCarthy said he's big on first impressions and the former undrafted free agent signing made a pretty good one in 2020.

"I remember watching him move in the rookie orientation there the pandemic year and just being impressed with him Day 1," McCarthy said. "He hadn't even put the pads on yet."

The Cibolo, Texas, native has started 40 of the 45 games he has played in since his rookie season, but after year 1, McCarthy knew he could be a decade-long player.

That's why in the offseason Steele's agent and the Cowboys were mutually interested in signing him to a "Cowboy-for-life" type of contract, according to our Mike Fisher. The two parties haven't reached an agreement on a long-term deal, meaning he is scheduled make $4.3 million in 2023, but he should be getting a hefty payday next offseason, considering how McCarthy views him.

And what is the "secret'' to his success?

"His work ethic and just the way he goes about it, he's always been no-nonsense, extremely coachable, very bright and he's a glue guy," McCarthy said. "He's really connected strongly not only in the O-line room but the locker room. Terence is a stud."

At full strength, Steele has a case to be a Pro Bowler in the NFL, and after his road to recovery, he'll have a chance to go prove that this season.