Dallas Cowboys' left guard Tyler Smith to miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery

September 7, 2026 at 11:55 pm Staff Tweet Share Reddit +1 Pocket LinkedIn Dallas Cowboys starting left guard Tyler Smith will undergo surgery on his left thumb Tuesday and is expected to miss four to six weeks, coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday, creating an early-season setback for one of the NFL's most highly regarded offensive linemen. Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, had been dealing with the thumb issue for much of training camp and had hoped to avoid surgery. He was absent from Monday's practice as the Cowboys prepared for Sunday night's season opener against the New York Giants. Schottenheimer said the injury ultimately prevented Smith from performing at the level necessary to play safely and effectively. 'At the end of the day, I felt like he couldn't do the things that he had to do at a high level,' Schottenheimer said. The coach also emphasized the importance of hand strength for offensive linemen and said the team expects Smith to return after recovering from the procedure. Smith is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning he will miss at least four games. His absence is a significant blow to a Dallas offensive line that has relied on his consistency since he was selected in the first round of the 2022 draft. Smith played left tackle as a rookie before moving to guard and earning Pro Bowl honors in each of the past three seasons. T.J. Bass is expected to take over at left guard. The fourth-year veteran has 48 career games and 10 starts, including five starts last season, and Dallas showed its confidence in him by giving him a second-round restricted free agent tender this offseason. Depending on Smith's recovery, he could return as early as Week 5 or Week 6. Editorial credit: dean bertoncelj / Shutterstock.com