Smith to undergo surgery, expected out 4–6 weeks
The Dallas Cowboys will be without left guard Tyler Smith for the start of the season after the All‑Pro underwent a roster decision this week. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Smith is scheduled for thumb surgery Tuesday and will be sidelined four to six weeks, a timeline that includes placement on injured reserve with a designation to return.
Schottenheimer said the left thumb had been bothering Smith throughout training camp, though the staff could not identify a single moment when the injury occurred. Dr. Steven Shin is slated to perform the operation.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Smith will undergo surgery on his left thumb on Tuesday and be placed on injured reserve, designated to return, with a four- to six-week timetable for his recovery. Schottenheimer said the thumb had been bothering Smith all of training camp and added, "He'll be back before too long."
T.J. Bass to step into starting role as Cowboys alter opener preparations
With Smith sidelined, the Cowboys have reworked their Week 1 preparations for the 2026 season opener against the New York Giants. The club expects veteran T.J. Bass to handle the starting left guard duties while Smith recovers.
Dallas previously tendered Bass a one‑year, $5.7 million contract to keep him in place for exactly this kind of depth need. Bass has appeared in 48 games since 2023, including 10 career starts — five of those coming in 2025 — and has been a regular reserve on the interior offensive line.
Film and metrics compiled by the team show Bass has been reliable in pass protection: across 568 career pass‑blocking snaps he has allowed two sacks and yielded 15 quarterback pressures. The Cowboys had also placed a second‑round tender on him in restricted free agency, underscoring the value they placed on his availability and versatility prior to this injury.
The loss of Smith forced immediate changes to the practice plan and game‑planning timeline as the Cowboys pivot toward a lineup that counters the Giants’ front. Coaches have reallocated reps and trimmed the installation schedule to accelerate Bass’s preparation as a starter while the medical staff manages Smith’s recovery timetable.
Tyler Smith’s surgical timetable and the IR designation set a clear return target, but Dallas will rely on Bass’s experience to bridge the gap. The situation leaves the Cowboys to balance short‑term protection of the quarterback and continuity at the interior line while monitoring Smith’s progress toward a midseason return.
