Dallas Cowboys place guard Tyler Smith on injured reserve

The Dallas Cowboys have placed Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith on injured reserve following thumb surgery. Smith is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of four to six weeks.

To address the vacancy on the offensive line, the Cowboys have elevated T. J. Bass to the starting left guard position. Bass, who previously received trade inquiries during the offseason, is playing under a one-year, $5.77 million contract. The team also promoted Nick Leverett from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to provide additional depth.

The injury comes ahead of the Cowboys' season opener against the New York Giants. While the loss of Smith is a significant blow to the interior line, analysts note that the Cowboys' rushing attack may still be effective against a Giants run defense that struggled last season. The Giants' defense will likely look to exploit the change in Dallas' protection scheme during the matchup.