The Dallas Cowboys offensive line is getting reinforcements as left tackle Tyron Smith will make his 2022-23 season debut on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Smith missed the first 13 games of the season with a torn hamstring he suffered during practice in August that required surgery. He also missed six games last season with an ankle sprain.
He returned to practice last Wednesday, starting a 21-day window for the Cowboys to activate him to play this season or shut him down for the rest of the season by keeping him on injured reserve.
That technically gives them until December 28 to make a move, but owner Jerry Jones was adamant when specifically asked about Tyron Smith on 105.3 FM The Fan, saying, “As I see it right now, he’ll be playing Sunday.”
Jones has been eagerly awaiting Smith’s return for a while, telling reporters at practice last week, “I can’t think of any single thing that could help a football team more than to have Tyron Smith come in healthy at left tackle. I really can’t. So right there is the biggest lift that you could draw up for the Dallas Cowboys without exception.”
The eight-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro has spent his entire 12-year career as the left tackle for Dallas and is expected to slide back into that role. Rookie first-round pick Tyler Smith has been playing that position all season and could move to guard.
Tyron Smith’s return comes right after Dallas lost right tackle Terrence Steele for the season with a serious knee injury. It could make sense to put either Tyron or Tyler Smith in that role, but the team also has 18-year veteran Jason Peters, who can step into either tackle spot.
The Cowboys are currently among the top 10 teams in the NFL in total offense and rushing, but the passing game could use some improvement. The team recently signed veteran wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, who they hope could help with that.
Dallas faces two of the top four defenses in the NFL during its final four games of the season, so it will need healthy players on its offense to compete in pivotal games down the stretch.
