With the 2022 NFL regular season just over two weeks away, the Dallas Cowboys have lost one of their most important players to a “severe” hamstring injury.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Dallas left tackle Tyron Smith suffered a torn left hamstring during Wednesday’s practice that will keep Smith out “indefinitely and could cost him multiple months of the 2022 season.”
Cowboys’ left tackle Tyron Smith suffered a torn left hamstring during Wednesday’s practice that will keep him out indefinitely and could cost him multiple months of the 2022 season, sources tell @toddarcher and me. pic.twitter.com/CBd7XTOeyg
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2022
Cowboys beat reporter Todd Archer of ESPN refers to the injury as “severe,” and adds that more tests will be done on Thursday.
Tyron Smith suffered a severe injury to his left hamstring in Wednesday’s practice that could cost him multiple months of the 2022 season, sources tell me and @AdamSchefter. More reviews to fully determine the severity are planned for Thursday.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 25, 2022
Video of Smith suffering the injury emerged earlier on Wednesday evening.
Here’s video of Tyron Smith’s injury during today’s practice. He walked out of the practice facility about an hour ago under his own power and didn’t appear to have much of a limppic.twitter.com/ODyA3CDFla
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 25, 2022
This is awful news for Smith, and it’s a devastating blow to the Dallas offensive line.
Smith, 31, is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, including in 2021. He’s also been named a first-team All-Pro twice (and second-team twice). He’s been one of the best offensive tackles — a premium position — on the planet during his career and has had the very important task of being Dak Prescott’s blindside protector (to go with opening up running lanes for Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, and company).
Was a blessing to be able to work on this year’s @NFL Top 100.
My first of three pieces: No. 92 Tyron Smith 💪🏾🦍https://t.co/e62uAxvCDy
— Jordyn J. (@j_bennett_live) August 15, 2022
It’s particularly brutal for the Cowboys when considering that their depth at offensive tackle doesn’t look good on the surface. And they probably should’ve done more at the position over the offseason, especially when considering that Smith has missed at least three games due to injuries in six straight seasons (he played 11 games in 2021 and two games in 2020).
Tyler Smith, a rookie first-round pick (22nd overall) out of Tulsa, has been playing left guard in preseason and training camp for the Cowboys, but he may have to slide over to left tackle now. Left tackle is where he played in college, but there’s a big difference between playing left tackle at Tulsa and playing it in the NFL, especially with zero NFL games under his belt.
2021 fourth-round pick Josh Ball is also an option, but he too has never played in an NFL game (due to an ankle injury suffered last year).
Here’s a look at how the NFL world is reacting to the Tyron Smith injury news:
There is nothing to say other than that the Dallas Cowboys are about as unprepared for this as they could possibly be and that it is all 100% their fault.
I am honestly amazed at the level of ignorance that we saw over the last few months. https://t.co/MUSigtxPvt
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 25, 2022
Awful to hear for an elite but often-battered veteran left tackle.
The Cowboys' season could very well be decided by the time Tyron Smith returns.
They had 5 months to address a contingency plan & the best answer they currently have is Josh Ball?
Player personnel negligence. https://t.co/bMydVCITcG
— Laurie Horesh (@LaurieHoresh) August 25, 2022
I just want a full season of Tyron Smith, it’s been like 6 years since he’s played a full season and the offense is noticeably worse every game he’s not holding down the blindside.
— Zirksee🍽️ (@Zirksee) August 25, 2022
Losing Tyron Smith is a massive blow for an offense that’ll be very thin at receiver to start the season as well. Cowboys open with the Buccaneers and Bengals.
Not great.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 25, 2022
Tyron Smith being out indefinitely is a massive blow to the Cowboys. That offensive line has gone from strength to major problem over the last few years
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) August 25, 2022
Cowboys are so ill-prepared now, and have been this entire offseason on the offensive line to now have Tyron Smith basically lost for the season is completely inexcusable…the wide receiver group and now offensive line are the 2 weakest on this team
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) August 25, 2022
