The Dallas Cowboys have been dealt a significant blow to their offensive line just days before the start of the 2026 regular season. Three-time Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith is scheduled to undergo thumb surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss four to six weeks, head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Monday, per Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Further evaluation confirmed Smith’s thumb issue is a ligament tear, not a fracture. The Cowboys spent the last several days exploring non-surgical options, including specialized taping and protective padding, hoping he could manage the pain.
But after testing his grip and pass-blocking functionality in practice, the team determined those measures would not hold up. Surgery is now scheduled for Tuesday, officially sidelining the All-Pro guard for 4 to 6 weeks.
Per Cowboys reporter Nick Harris, Tyler Smith’s surgery will be done by Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles. Shin earned fame last year for his hand operation on Oklahoma QB John Mateer that expedited his recovery timeline. “Dr. Shin is the GOAT,” Mateer said. He’s also worked on Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant and more.
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Smith, who has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the past three seasons and was a second-team All-Pro in 2023, has been bothered by the injury for some time and had been hoping to avoid surgery.
The 25-year-old has started all 63 games he has played during his four-year NFL career, making this extended absence particularly unusual. He will be placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
The timing is especially challenging. Dallas opens its season Sunday night against the New York Giants, followed by matchups against the Commanders, Ravens, Texans, Buccaneers, and Packers over the first six weeks. Schottenheimer confirmed that T.J. Bass will replace Smith in the starting lineup.
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T.J. Bass: The next man up
Bass, 27, joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon in 2023 and has steadily developed into one of the team’s most trusted interior backups. He played in 16 games with five starts in 2025- three at right guard and two at left guard. Over his three-year career, Bass has appeared in 48 games with 10 starts.
Pro Football Focus graded Bass with an overall mark of 67.6 in 2025, ranking 29th out of 81 qualifying guards. He posted a pass-blocking grade of 62.9 and a run-blocking grade of 65.8. Perhaps most impressively, Bass allowed zero penalties across 352 snaps last season.
Bass is described as a technician who wins with natural leverage. He is a sharp processor who can identify complex defensive stunts in an instant, and his ability to bend at the knees allows him to get under the pads of larger defenders.
He plays with a “nasty finisher’s mentality” and offers versatility across both guard spots and even center. While he sometimes lacks the lateral movement to mirror elite speed rushers, his reliability and football IQ have made him a dependable plug-and-play option.
In the 10 games Bass has started, the Cowboys are 5-4-1 and averaging 27.8 points per game.
What’s next for Cowboys QB protection?
Dak Prescott was sacked 31 times in 2025. While the Cowboys’ interior offensive line performed admirably, ranking 11th in the NFL in adjusted pressures and 13th in adjusted sacks, edge protection remains a significant concern.
Right tackle Terence Steele allowed 52 pressures and six sacks last season, while left tackle Tyler Guyton has struggled with consistency in his first two NFL seasons.
Losing Smith, the anchor of the interior, only magnifies those vulnerabilities. The Cowboys’ offense entered 2026 with GOTI (“Greatest Offense There Is”) as its rallying cry, a mantra coined by Prescott during training camp.
Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams has embraced the standard, using it to hold the unit accountable. With all 11 offensive starters returning and weapons like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens at Prescott’s disposal, expectations are sky-high.
But those aspirations now rest on the shoulders of an offensive line that must protect its franchise quarterback without its best interior lineman for at least a month. For Dallas to live up to its GOTI billing, Bass must hold the line while Prescott must continue his mastery of avoiding pressure.
