Cowboys to lose star left tackle Tyron Smith for months with knee injury
What first appeared to be a hamstring injury for Tyron Smith turned out to be an avulsion fracture that is expected to keep the Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle out of action for the majority of the regular season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Smith, 31, went down without contact at practice Wednesday and ESPN reported later that day that he suffered a torn hamstring. Further testing reportedly revealed an avulsion fracture, which means the hamstring tendon pulled off the bone in the back of the knee. The injury will require surgery and is expected to keep him out until at least December.
The 2011 first-round pick earned seven consecutive Pro Bowl nods between 2013 and 2019 before missing all but two games in 2020 after undergoing neck surgery. Smith missed several games in the latter half of the 2021 season due to nagging ankle injuries but still managed to reach his eighth career Pro Bowl.
In April, the Cowboys picked offensive tackle Tyler Smith in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the hopes that he would eventually inherit the left tackle role. However, Smith has been a limited participant in practices due to an ankle injury.
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