Cowboys' Crawford practices after being hospitalized with neck injury

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford returned to practice on Tuesday after recovering from a neck injury that sent him to the hospital.

Crawford strained his neck when he crashed into the offensive line during a Dec. 23 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was carted off the field and taken to a hospital, but released shortly thereafter.

"Obviously you’re going to feel it still on every hit. But it was way better than what I thought it was going to be," Crawford said after practice, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.

Crawford added that he heard a cracking noise after making contact with the Buccaneers' offensive line.

The 29-year-old recorded 34 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 15 games this season.

Dallas squares off against the Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 5 during Wild Card Weekend. If Crawford returns he'll give the Cowboys' sixth-ranked scoring defense a major boost.