Cowboys Lose Tyler Smith to Thumb Surgery | Dallas Cowboys News

0:00It's September 7th. I'm Cory with the story. This is Dallas Cowboys News today, driven by AI and built for fans. Alright, so the Dallas Cowboys are facing a pretty significant blow right before the season kicks off. Their left guard, Tyler Smith, who's been a pro-buller three years running, is going to need surgery on his left thumb. This means he's looking at missing at least the first four games, possibly up to six weeks, depending on how the surgery and recovery go. He actually played through some ligament damage in that thumb during training camp, but has gotten to the point where they've decided it's best to. Get it fixed now, rather than risk it further. Coach Shottenheimer mentioned that grip strength is crucial for offensive lineman, and they want to get him back to full strength for the long haul. This definitely adds some pressure to an offensive line that was already facing some questions this summer. They've got an open competition going on at right tackle, and now they're losing a key piece in Smith. It's a tough break, especially for a player who's been so consistent since he came into

1:01the league. TJ Bass, a veteran with 10 career starts, is expected to step in and fill Smith's spot. The Cowboys resigned Bass earlier this year to a one-year deal. They're hoping he can hold down the fort while Smith is recovering and getting back to full health. Smith could technically be back for week five, but that's a quick turnaround. A more realistic return date might be later in October, against Green Bay. It's a situation to keep an eye on as the season gets underway.