With a new injury, the Cowboys risk losing a two-time All-Pro starter

With a new back ailment, Dallas Cowboys starting tackle Tyron Smith could miss time. Smith did not practice on Thursday, December 21, 2023, putting his Week 16 matchup against the Miami Dolphins in jeopardy. Dallas is also dealing with the return of veteran guard Zack Martin from a thigh injury.

“Tyron Smith (back) and Zack Martin (thigh) did not practice today,” Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News wrote on X on December 21. “If Tyron Smith can practice on Saturday, he should be fine for Sunday.” Malik Hooker (ankle) and Rico Dowdle (ankle) were both limited. Tony Pollard (thumb) took part fully.”

According to DallasCowboys.com’s Nick Harris, Smith’s status for the trip to Miami is “up in the air.” According to the Cowboys reporter, the new injury is a “surprise.”

“Smith surprisingly popped up on the injury report with a back injury that he suffered in the game against the Bills and is not expected to practice until at least Saturday,” Harris said on the 21st of December. “It will be then when the Cowboys can get a better expectation for his status on Sunday.”

This has been a troubling pattern for Smith in recent years, as the two-time All-Pro has battled a slew of injuries. Smith has already missed three games this season and could miss more depending on the severity of his latest back issue.

After suffering a hamstring injury in the preseason, the standout tackle appeared in only four games last season. Smith has missed considerable time in each of the last eight seasons.

This offseason, Dallas must make a choice on Smith’s future. The veteran was named as a possible cut candidate in Cowboys speculations this summer.

Smith instead agreed to modify his contract with incentives dependent on the number of games he played. Smith is in the final year of an eight-year, $97.6 million deal.

When healthy, Smith continues to play at a high level, and it is difficult to picture the eight-time Pro Bowler not having a market in free agency.

The question is if the Cowboys will be one of the interested parties. If Smith is willing to tie his income to the number of games played, there is some attraction. ESPN’s Matt Miller believes the Cowboys should hunt for replacement players in 2024.

“The Cowboys should sign or draft a left tackle to replace future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith and allow second-year player Tyler Smith to stay at guard, where he has been really good,” Miller wrote in an article headlined “2024 NFL offseason: Early positional needs for AFC, NFC teams.” “If Dallas has the cap space, Jonah Williams might want to kick back over to the left side and hit free agency.”

“The Cowboys should sign or draft a left tackle to replace future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith and allow second-year player Tyler Smith to stay at guard, where he has been really good,” Miller wrote in an article titled “2024 NFL offseason: Early positional needs for AFC, NFC teams.” “If Dallas has the cap space, Jonah Williams might want to kick back over to the left side and hit free agency.”