Cowboys starting left guard Tyler Smith out 4-6 weeks with thumb injury

Dallas Cowboys starting left guard Tyler Smith was not on the field for the team's practice on Monday afternoon, and unfortunately we now know why. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced after the practice that Smith will need thumb surgery, and is expected to miss four to six weeks. We got further confirmation that this has been bothering Smith for a while and that they tried to avoid surgery, but were ultimately unsuccessful. T.J. Bass will get his opportunity to step in. Interior offensive line depth was one of the biggest concerns for the Cowboys all training camp and preseason, and now right off the bat they've been dealt the biggest possible blow, losing the experienced Smith at left guard. Luckily Bass is the backup with the most experience capable of stepping into this spot, and Dallas also has Ajani Cornelius as they prepare for week one on Sunday night at the Giants.