Dallas Cowboys: 4 injured players from ’17 who must stay healthy

There’s no question, health plays a significant part in an NFL team’s success. For the Dallas Cowboys, overcoming key injuries has been an impassable wall as of late. Last season, we saw Dallas crumble when they failed to adequately adapt to injuries. That can’t happen again in 2018.

Today we’ll look at some players who the Dallas Cowboys cannot afford to lose. Specifically, we’ll look at four guys who missed time in 2017 who must stay healthy in 2018.

Tyron Smith, LT

Games missed in 2017: 3+

Listing Tyron Smith here shouldn’t surprise anyone. The former All-Pro left tackle is the best in the game when he’s healthy. The problem is he’s not always healthy. The need for Tyron Smith was never more apparent than in Week 9 when Dallas faced off against the Atlanta Falcons.

Chaz Green was given the start in Tyron’s stead. What followed was the worst individual effort seen in years. Pedestrian pass rusher, Adrian Clayborn collected six sacks on the day and the Cowboys coaching staff appeared impotent to do anything to stop it. At the end of the day, Dak Prescott was sacked eight times, and if we’re being honest, he never looked the same since.

The Cowboys aggressively addressed tackle depth when they signed the best swing tackle on the free agent market, Cameron Fleming. But the falloff in talent from Tyron to Fleming is significant and the coaching staff has done little to make us think they know what do if problems on the edge arise again.

The good news is Tyron has been getting plenty of time off in training camp. This not only preserves their most important linemen, but also helps develop the talent behind him (Cameron Fleming).

If the Dallas Cowboys want to make a run this season, they’re going to need their best player at their strongest position unit to be on the field.