Once again, the Cowboys are preparing to play a game this weekend as if one of their most important offensive starters won’t be ready to go.
Left tackle Tyron Smith had already been dealing with an ankle issue, and it flared up again during the second quarter of the team’s 20-16 win Sunday in Minnesota, forcing the seven-time Pro Bowler to miss the remainder of the game.
In a midweek press conference, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Smith would not practice on Wednesday and expressed doubt about his availability for the team’s home date with the Broncos this weekend.
“He’d be pressed to play,” McCarthy stated plainly.
Smith originally suffered the ankle injury in Week 6 versus New England and was limited leading up to the Halloween night tilt against the Vikings. He lasted 31 snaps before leaving the game. Team owner Jerry Jones called it a bone spur issue in a radio interview Tuesday.
If Smith sits, the offensive line will undergo something of a shuffle, a routine that fans became accustomed to seeing last season. Right tackle La’el Collins has returned from his five-game suspension, but did not take over his starting position in Week 8, as Terence Steele stayed put. Moving forward, Steele could remain on the right side with Collins sliding down to Smith’s left spot, or Steele could swing to replace Smith at left while Collins comes back to his usual position.
On Sunday, it was Ty Nsekhe who replaced Smith.
McCarthy declined to offer any hints about which way the team would go for the Week 9 interconference matchup.
“We’ve got some options we’re looking at. Frankly, I don’t want to tell you. We’d rather Denver find out when they find out.”
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