The Dallas Cowboys keep receiving blow after blow when it comes to injury and the once-vaunted offensive line. Earlier in the day, head coach Mike McCarthy let on that left tackle Tyron Smith, back just one game after dealing with neck stingers, was not recovering well. The announcement clearly put Smith’s status for Week 5 against the New York Giants in deep jeopardy.
Now, it’s been revealed that much more than Sunday’s game is at risk. NFL Network’s Jane Slater and Mike Garafolo are stating that Smith is receiving second opinions about his neck and there is consideration of shutting him down for the remainder of the 2020 season. Already missing right tackle La’el Collins for the year after a hip injury, losing Smith would be a crushing blow.
#Cowboys LT Tyron Smith is gathering medical opinions on his neck after a setback, and one option being considered is shutting down for the season, sources tell me and @SlaterNFL. No final decision made on Smith, who hasn’t practiced this week, but his status is up in the air.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 8, 2020
Smith, a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All pro, has been a stalwart of the Cowboys offensive line since being drafted in 2011. After one season on the right side, he swapped with Doug Free and has been entrenched as the left tackle since 2012. The 6-foot-5, 320 pound star from USC has stood as the prototype for his position ever since, as his athleticism and power are everything a team would want in a blindside protector.
Injury has caught up with him over the last half decade, as a series of ailments have hindered him in several games while causing him to miss 3 contests each of the last four seasons.
The club has only used one draft pick on a tackle since bringing Smith aboard, the ill-fated selection of Chaz Green in 2015’s third round. Collins was acquired that draft season as well, but was a UDFA despite having first-round pedigree.
If Smith does rule himself out for the year, or even if he doesn’t, one would have to wonder if the front office would heavily consider investing in the position in the upcoming draft.
For now, the Cowboys would be left to decide what to do with the players they have on hand.
Dallas will have to man both positions with some combination of Brandon Knight (2019 UDFA), Terence Steele (2020 UDFA), Jordan Mills (midseason signing), William Sweet (signed off Browns practice squad this week) and Eric Smith (signed after Week 1). Cam Erving, signed in the offseason to be the swing tackle, lost that job to Steele going into the opener and has been out since spraining his MCL.
There’s rarely any solid options on the free agent market at that position during the season, so the Cowboys may have to get creative. They could potentially look for a trade, which is unlikely as teams tend to keep good tackles, or they could consider shuffling their offensive line.
Zack Martin, who played left tackle in college, kicked out when injuries took hold in Week 3 against Seattle. He could be asked to do so again. Connor Williams, left guard, also played tackle in college but he seems like more of a stretch considering his play inside hasn’t been stellar. Knight played fairly admirably in the two games Smith missed, but that brings Steele back into the equation at right tackle, and his performance has been underwhelming.
The Cowboys answer for what they do on Sunday may not end up being what they do if Smith misses extended time.
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