Disaster struck the Dallas Cowboys offensive line on Wednesday. Star left tackle Tyron Smith tore his hamstring while doing a block during practice, according to ESPN. A additional report from NFL Network clarified that Smith suffered an avulsion fracture in his knee, which involves the hamstring tendon tearing the bone. If he returns at all this season, it won’t be until December.
Smith, 31, has struggled with a variety of injury issues in recent seasons, having missed at least three games every year since 2016. When healthy, he remains one of the best tackles in the game and is an eight-time Pro Bowler, but the “when healthy” qualifier is increasingly needed.
Dallas is already going through massive changes along the offensive line this season, with the team letting left guard Connor Williams go in free agency and then cutting ties with right tackle La’el Collins. The former was to be replaced by first-round pick Tyler Smith, whom the team has identified as its left tackle of the future, but also someone who could start guard next to Tyron Smith in the short term.
It’s possible that in the wake of Tyron Smith’s serious injury, the Cowboys will immediately launch their first-round pick on the outside, accelerating the process of passing the potential future Hall of Famer who has kept the left side of the line since 2012 (Smith played right tackle as a rookie in 2011.) Other inside options are 2021 fourth-round pick Josh Ball, who struggled extensively during training camp, 2022 fifth-round Matt Waletzko, who played exclusively on the right during camp and is coming off an injury, and veteran tackle Aviante Collins, who has played just five games since being undrafted by TCU in 2017.
According to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones, the current plan is to replace Smith with one of the in-house options, but the Cowboys will monitor the roster’s movements in the league and determine whether to acquire another offensive lineman.
There are still free agent tackles available, like Eric Fisher and Jason Peters, and there have been rumors that the Patriots will make Isaiah Wynn available via trade. Dallas has plenty of room to make a signing or a trade if they want to bring in someone from outside the organization. Whichever route the Cowboys ultimately choose, however, they are extremely unlikely to get the level of production from either of these options that they expect from Smith. For an offense that struggled throughout last season as the offensive line struggled with injuries and ineffective play, this is a devastating loss.
