IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys have reached a three-year extension with defensive end Sean Lissemore.
Lissemore's deal has $3.1 million guaranteed and includes a $2 million signing bonus.
"The Cowboys like him and Sean likes being there," Lissemore's agent Wes Bridges said. "Quite frankly, Sean had a decision to make and see if he wanted to wait it out and go to next year, but he didn't want it to be a distraction and wanted to just play ball. He wanted to get a deal done and get it done this year."
Lissemore, a seventh-round pick in 2010, was under contract through 2013 as part of his rookie deal but is now signed through 2016.
While he has yet to start a game in his two-plus seasons with the Cowboys, Lissemore has become one of their top substitutes and the coaches view him as a future starter. He was credited with two tackles in the season-opening win at the New York Giants, playing end and nose tackle.
He played in every game last year and had 39 tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries.