It has been a rough go of late for Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith. The eight-time Pro Bowler and former USC Trojan star has been a staple in Dallas for years.
However, he played just 11 games in 2021 as he dealt with another injury. When he was healthy, he still showed why he is a quality starting offensive lineman in the NFL.
With the 2022 regular season two weeks away, the Cowboys just got some brutal news regarding Smith. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Smith tore his hamstring and is now out until December at the very least. There is a chance he could miss the entire 2022-2023 season.
Cowboys’ LT Tyron Smith’s hamstring tore and came off the bone, per sources. He could have surgery as early as today, pending meeting with doctors. He is out indefinitely, and is unlikely to return before December. https://t.co/t5HPYHB1D9
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2022
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network added that Smith suffered an avulsion fracture.
#Cowboys standout LT Tyron Smith actually suffered an avulsion fracture of the knee, meaning the hamstring tendon that sits at the back of the knee pulled off the bone and he needs surgery, sources say. If he’s back at all, it’ll be December. A tough loss.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 25, 2022
That makes another long recovery ahead for Smith, who saw his 2020 campaign end early with a neck injury. He came back strong, but this is a giant step back for the 31-year-old.
Jerry Jones gave an optimistic outlook on the return of Smith (h/t Kevin Patra of NFL.com).
“We’ll have him and we’ll have him at the right time,” Jones said. “We’ll have him in that San Francisco game – the equivalent of that we had last year – and maybe we won’t fall short.”
If Smith returns in December, it might be too late, depending on where the Cowboys sit. Nonetheless, at first thought, it could have been an ACL injury, so at least there’s a small chance he comes back this year.
That said, one has to wonder if — or when — Smith will tire of the process of continued injury rehabilitation which has defined his career over the past two years. At some point, the reward of playing football, measured against constant pain and rehab, doesn’t carry the same pull, especially since Smith already has life-changing money and a secure place in pro football history.
We will see what happens.
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