Tyler Smith Out for Season, Bass Steps In | Dallas Cowboys News

0:00It's September 7th. This is Dallas Cowboys News Today, your AI-powered team coverage. All pro guard Tyler Smith is going under the knife for thumb surgery. This isn't a new issue. He's been dealing with it for a while, and has gotten to the point where he feels he can't perform at his best. The team is placing him on the injured reserve list with a designation to return, which frees of a roster spy for now. With Smith sidelined, TJ Bass is stepping in at left guard. Bass has some starting experience, having made five starts last season, and the Cowboys made sure to keep him around by extending him a restricted, free agent offer. He's considered a key backup, and now he's getting his chance to prove it. The team might look to Nick Levert, who was on the practice squad, to fill the backup center role now that Bass is moving into a starting position. Levert had a solid training camp and preseason, so he could be the next man up. Smith's injury history shows he's missed at least one game in each of the last four seasons. This surgery means he'll miss a minimum of four games due to the injured reserve rules,

1:03potentially making this his least played season yet. He'll be eligible to return after that four game stretch, but the Cowboys will need to officially open his return window. This is a tough break for the Cowboys, especially with a challenging early schedule that includes matchups against strong defensive lines in their all. This is a tough break for the Cowboys. This is a tough break for the Cowboys.