A first-round pick out of Tulsa in 2022, Smith manned the left tackle spot as a rookie before establishing himself as a premier guard in the ensuing three campaigns, earning Pro Bowl honors in each of the last three years (plus a second-team All-Pro nod in 2023). He’s been dependable, too, playing 16 or more games in three of his four seasons with the Cowboys and serving as a reliable blocker amid change along the interior.
With Smith acting as a central figure in the trenches, Dallas has managed to reconstruct its offensive line and maintain excellence across the unit over the last few years. Smith will be missed over the next month or so as Bass, a four-year pro, steps in to replace him, but as Schottenheimer noted, the Cowboys would rather sacrifice a month in order to have Smith at his best upon returning.
“At the end of the day, you always see if you can kinda play through these things,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s done things like that, like a lot of guys have, they’ve been able to play through them. Unfortunately, when you’re an offensive lineman, grip strength and things like that are really important. Again, we know he’s a quick healer, and we want to get it fixed. He’ll be back before too long.”