FRISCO, Texas -- The biggest reasons for the Dallas Cowboys' optimism about their pass rush at the start of the season were Tyrone Crawford and DeMarcus Lawrence.

Crawford, who had five sacks last season, finished with 4.5 sacks this season but did not play the final two games because of a shoulder injury. Lawrence, who led the Cowboys with eight sacks in 2015, missed the first four games because of a suspension and the final three games because of a back injury and had just one sack this season.

While neither player is sure they will practice Thursday or Friday, both said they will be ready for the Jan. 15 divisional-round game.

“We’re ready,” Lawrence said. “It’s the playoffs, baby. It’s time to go get it.”

Whenever the Cowboys’ season ends, both players could be looking at surgery for the second straight offseason. Crawford had surgery on his right shoulder last year and Lawrence had back surgery.

But the recent time off has been beneficial.

“It helped the aggravation in my back calm down a lot,” Lawrence said. “Now I feel a whole lot better than when I was at that Giants game (Dec. 11) that we played. I’m just ready to get back out there and roll with my brothers.”

Crawford will wear a sling for added protection.

“Obviously with what I’ve got, it’s not going to be feeling great, but good enough to go,” Crawford said.

In the absence of Crawford and Lawrence, David Irving and Benson Mayowa became bigger parts of the Cowboys' pass-rushing rotation. With Crawford and Lawrence, the Cowboys might finally have the group coordinator Rod Marinelli wanted all along.

“Practice is good for everybody, just working the fundamentals and keys and ins and outs of the defense, really,” said Lawrence, who had two sacks in the Cowboys’ two playoff games in 2014. “And being able to play off your brothers and knowing what they’re doing. I’ll be out there. My body is feeling a whole better and I’m going to do everything I possibly can.”