Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware has undergone successful surgery on his injured right elbow, according to reports.

Ware had carried the injury for the last two seasons but was only recently diagnosed with a nerve issue, prompting him to have an operation in order to alleviate the problem.

The 31-year-old admitted that the pain had become too much to bear recently, although he is not expected to miss any of the off-season program, according to ESPN.

The seven-time Pro Bowler missed the first three games of last season with a quadriceps injury and went on to make a career-low six sacks over the remainder of the campaign.

He also suffered a recurrence of that injury later in the season as well as a stinger and a back problem, although he claimed last week that his body "feels great".