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Cowboys Defensive Leaders Trying To Be Healthy For London

DALLAS, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - Henry Melton has assumed a leadership role off the field for the Cowboys, as exhibited by an outing led by him last Thursday and featuring more than a dozen teammates in a suite at a Mavs game.

And on the field? Dallas' top free agency from the summer, coming off a serious knee injury and playing on a make-good contract, has notched 3.5 sacks in the last two games and five for the year.

"I'm just getting more an more comfortable with what the coaches are asking me to do," Melton tells me of his role not only as a 3-tech guy as planned but also as a pass-rush end. "We know getting to the quarterback is a big key to making this defense go."

Said coach Jason Garrett: "He's done a really nice job. We've used him in a couple of different spots and he's gotten to the quarterback from both the end position and also inside...he's a hard guy to block when he gets going."

When the Cowboys arrive in London on Tuesday in preparation for Sunday's game against Jacksonville, they may need even more of Melton inside.

Tyrone Crawford is hoping his knee sprain isn't too bad, but it required an MRI on Monday before our trip. Middle linebacker Rolando McClain is also getting his knee checked.

"We anticipate everybody traveling," said Garrett, who is hopeful Melton and company also end up traveling towards the QB.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

*Follow Mike Fisher @fishsports and @1053thefan for the latest updates as he travels with the Dallas Cowboys to London, England.

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