Questions Raised Over Cowboys Depth After Key Injury Update

The Cowboys thought they had their answer in Matt Hennessy. After all, they spent $1.4 million after parting ways with Brock Hoffman. Yet, their backup plan has now gone sideways.

Earlier this month, the Cowboys placed Hennessy on injured reserve, ruling him out for the entire 2026 season, putting the Cowboys in jeopardy.

Mike Moraitis of Sports Illustrated felt the same and signalled a possibly larger problem the team might face in the coming months.

“The bigger concern is the Cowboys’ bench being thinned out. As we said, there is now one less reliable veteran off the bench, which could be a problem if Dallas experiences issues at guard and center simultaneously,” wrote Moraitis.

What makes this even more troubling is that the team has already lost Hoffman, who proved invaluable last season, stepping in at both center and guard when injuries hit players like Zack Martin and Beebe. Now, with training camp on the horizon and injuries seeming to pile up again, entering 2026.

One veteran the Cowboys still have is T.J. Bass, who has spent three years with the team. He worked at center throughout OTAs, taking reps with both the first and second-team units during the spring. Beyond Bass, the Cowboys still have plenty to sort out behind Tyler Booker, Cooper Beebe, and Tyler Smith.

The Cowboys have already started looking for answers, bringing back former practice squad lineman Chris Glaser. After stints with the Cowboys and the Jets, Glaser returns to find a permanent spot with the team. But there are multiple young stars competing for the starting job.

Rookie Drew Shelton is also expected to see reps at guard, while Trevor Keegan, Marcellus Johnson, Nick Leverett, and undrafted rookie D.J. Wingfield remain in the mix.

The Cowboys will have to find their answer once camp gets underway, and the offensive line isn’t the only place that pileup is showing up.

The Injury Concerns Don’t End With Hennessy

Just last year, free-agent signing Robert Jones missed the entire season after suffering a neck injury of his own, so Hennessy’s situation feels like familiar territory for Dallas. And he isn’t the only Cowboy dealing with an injury this offseason.

Dak Prescott has been limited during minicamp because of knee soreness, while James Houston and Malik Hooker have both been managing back issues.

Jonathan Mingo is working through a minor groin strain, Jalen Thompson is dealing with a pectoral injury, and rookie pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku is still recovering from a hip issue.

When the Cowboys open the season on September 14, their projected starting offensive line is expected to average just 25.5 years old, making it the fourth-youngest offensive line in the NFL.