Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith will miss the team's Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants after undergoing surgery for a ligament tear in his thumb. Smith is expected to be sidelined for at least the first four games of the season.
Smith initially attempted to play through the injury, but he and the team ultimately determined that surgery and a stint on injured reserve would be the most effective course of action. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer noted the importance of grip strength for offensive linemen and expressed confidence in Smith's ability to recover.
“Unfortunately, when you’re an offensive lineman, grip strength and things like that are really important,” Schottenheimer said, according to ESPN. “We know he’s a quick healer, and we want to get it fixed and he’ll be back for too long.”
Schottenheimer also commended Smith's toughness, explaining that the exact moment of the injury could not be pinpointed. "He’s such a tough guy. I can’t say enough about Tyler,” Schottenheimer added. "I mean just the toughness, but at the end of the day we can’t pinpoint when it happened. It’s just one of those deals that at the end of the day made the decision that we all did that the best thing is to get in front of this thing and it’s a long season so let’s go get it fixed.”
Smith, who has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons, has a history of injuries, missing five games in his four-year career due to issues with his ankle, foot, hamstring, and knee. He underwent surgery on his right knee in February.
During Smith's absence, T.J. Bass is expected to step in at left guard. Bass has started 10 games for the Cowboys over his three-year career.