Via David Helman
Writer of FOX Sports Dallas Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas – The real question at this point is why Cowboys did not do more to prepare for this situation.
For those who haven’t heard, Tyron Smith left practice on Wednesday night. The longtime professional hit the ball in favor of his left foot on a regular block in the final practice of the Cowboys’ training camp. Given Smith’s injury history, everyone in the team’s indoor facility appeared to be holding their breath as he walked into the locker room with members of the medical staff at his side.
Despite initial reports that Smith had avoided a serious injury, late Wednesday news emerged that he had torn his hamstring. The Cowboys may not have the rock to the left of their attack for many months of the 2022 season.
At his best, Smith is one of the most dominant offensive tackles in the NFL, and one of the most fun to watch. He can make his job look easy and he goes a long way to maintaining Dak Prescott on his feet.
However, as mentioned before, Smith’s good health is no longer something that one can take for granted long ago. In the first part of his career, he missed only one of his first 82 appearances. Back problems came to him during the 2016 season and it’s been a battle ever since.
So far, Smith has missed at least three games in the past six seasons. More back problems forced him to have surgery and miss most of the 2020 season, and last year a bone in his ankle caused him to miss six games.
It’s been an unfortunate sequence, and – even more unfortunate – looks like it will continue into a seventh season.
The next question is obvious: Now what? None of the internal options look particularly appealing.
Yes, Cowboys drafted Tyler Smith 24th place overall this year with him being a left franchise solution. Throughout the spring, team officials referred to him as a “player on the left,” suggesting that he can make time for both defense and handling.
The point is that the 21-year-old has done most of his work at left guard this year, with Tyron Smith serving as the unquestionable starter on the left when healthy. Younger Smith took his time to settle in the spring, but Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy noted this month that the coaching staff wanted their rookie to feel comfortable defending. Throughout this month at training camp and in both of the team’s pre-season games, Tyler Smith played entirely in guard mode.
There’s still two weeks left until the season’s opening day, so perhaps it’s possible to switch rookies to tackle, allowing a fourth-year pro Connor McGovern to handle the left guard job. But it’s an amazingly quick turnaround for a freshman who has to change positions – not to mention the fact that Tyler Smith is currently treating his own ankle injury.
Other options do not inspire confidence anymore. According to this year’s draft, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he doesn’t think his team requires the services of a veteran player, noting the presence of young players Josh Ball and Matt Waletzko as why.
Waletzko injured his shoulder on the first day of training and returned to the field this week. Ball has acted as a primary backup in both attacking positions this summer, but his performance in pre-season hasn’t inspired the kind of confidence Jones envisioned. in the spring.
Veterans solve problems Aviante Collins He’s on the roster and has played a lot before this season, but he’s also only had five regular games of the season and a solid start – that lone start will return in 2019.
At the risk of repeating the sound, the situation did not look good.
So what about the alternatives? The Cowboys’ roughly $20 million salary cap space is currently third in the league. Some of that limited space was freed by their decision to release a permanent rights settlement La’el Collinswho signed with Cincinnati Bengals.
There are veteran options around. Eric Fisher, former No. 1 player overall since 2013, unemployed after starting 15 games for Indianapolis Colts last year. Seven-year veteran Daryl Williams, who started all 17 games for Buffalo Bills Last year, also available.
There may even be an exchange made. There has been speculation recently that New England can try to cope Isaiah Wynna former first-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft. Wynn started 33 games for the Patriots on the left shot, but was recently moved to the right handle.
What course will the cowboy pursue? Or will they go after one? This season’s consistent theme is youth-related excitement on this list. If fate had forced them, would they stick to that message or switch things up and seek outside help?
It’s a conversation the Cowboys will need to have in the coming days – although it’s fair to wonder why it’s traumatizing to bring up that conversation in the first place.
David Helman covers the Dallas Cowboys for FOX Sports, providing insight and analysis into the NFL’s most visible franchise. Prior to joining FOX, David spent nine seasons on the Cowboys for the team’s official website, DallasCowboys.com. In 2018, he won a regional Emmy for his role in producing “Dak Prescott: A Family Reunion” about the quarterback quartet’s time at Mississippi State.
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