IRVING, Texas – When the Cowboys begin their organized team activities in May, their inside linebackers Sean Lee and Bruce Carter figure to be ready to go.

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Lee’s season ended because of toe surgery after six games. Carter’s season ended on Thanksgiving because of an elbow injury that required surgery.

Lee has eyes on being ready for the start of the offseason program in April and said his rehab is “right on track.” He has increased his workload in recent weeks and hopes to do some light jogging in the near future.

Carter is no longer in a brace for his elbow and is working on range of motion and strengthening exercises.

Despite missing 15 games combined, Carter and Lee finished third and tied for fourth in tackles this season. Carter had 80 and Lee had 77.

“There’s going to be injuries where you’re just going to have to take it on the chin and it is what it is,” Lee said. “This toe is one of those. But I’m going to do everything in my power to stay out there and all of us we need to find a way to be on the field and be better football players.”

Carter raised his level of play in Lee’s absence after he entered the season as something of a question after a knee injury limited him as a rookie in 2011.

“It gives you that confidence that you need,” Carter said. “It’s one thing for me to study my plays and know what I needed to do and then to actually get out there and do it and do it at a high standard, the way I wanted to play. I think that was great for me despite me being hurt.”