The Dallas Cowboys place starting left guard Tyler Smith on injured reserve after he undergoes thumb surgery, with multiple reports saying he misses significant time at the start of the season. Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, and CBS Sports report the injury is to his thumb and that the expected absence is about four to six weeks.
Schottenheimer is cited by Yahoo Sports as saying Smith has had a lingering thumb ligament issue, with surgery scheduled for Tuesday. The Athletic adds that when Smith goes on IR, T.J. Bass steps into the left guard spot for the Week 1 opener against the Giants. Other outlets note the Cowboys sign Nick Leverett to the active roster to provide depth while Smith is unavailable.
While all sources agree on the core timeline and reason for the move—thumb surgery and an extended absence—details vary slightly, including how outlets describe the minimum expected time (at least a month versus a 4-6 week window) and the specific roster adjustments and replacement roles mentioned.
