In what will likely shape up to be a battle of two of the league’s top defenses, the offensive lines could go a long way in ultimately determining the outcome when Dallas travels to San Francisco this weekend for a primetime showdown of NFC powers.
And the Cowboys don’t know if one of their most important pieces will even be on the field.
Left tackle Tyron Smith is a major question mark heading into Sunday’s Week 5 game, having already missed the last two outings with a knee injury. On Tuesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sounded less than confident about the eight-time Pro Bowler’s status changing in the coming days.
“If he’s available, it would be iffy,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan’s Shan and RJ. “But he could be.”
The oft-injured 32-year-old started Weeks 1 and 2 for Dallas in blowout wins, though he had shown up in the injury reports leading up to both games with an ankle injury. He was not listed as a concern prior to Week 3’s meeting with Arizona and only showed up on the practice report with a knee issue the day before the game.
When that desert duel kicked off Sept. 24, an in-uniform Smith was standing on the sidelines. He did not play in the 28-16 loss, once again making 2015 the most recent season in which the former first-round draft pick appeared in the full slate of games. He sat out last week’s date with New England as well.
Smith has played in just 19 of 54 regular-season games during head coach Mike McCarthy’s tenure.
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While Jones’s comments allow hope for Smith’s injured knee to make a turnaround in time for Sunday’s kickoff, the Cowboys will spend the week prudently prepping their Plan B.
“This morning, you need to think about him playing,” Jones said of Smith. “If he doesn’t, we’re well-prepared.”
Chuma Edoga got the start in place of Smith for both Weeks 3 and 4. If he replaces Smith again at Levi’s Stadium, he would have to be considered the weak link as the Cowboys face a San Francisco defense that includes Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Hargrave, and Fred Warner, among others.
Second-year man Tyler Smith filled in for Tyron last season at tackle but has been allowed to remain at left guard since he returned to the lineup in Week 3.
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