The Dallas Cowboys are looking like one of the best offenses in the NFL, despite not getting much help from their offensive line. The fact that they rank dead last in the league in pass block grade per Pro Football Focus makes Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense's start to the season that much more impressive.
One of the biggest reasons for the Cowboys' struggles on the offensive line has been constant injuries. Cooper Beebe will miss at least another month, and Tyler Booker missed last week with an ankle injury. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like things are letting up for the Cowboys any time soon.
Cowboys' Injury Crisis Is Worsening with More Offensive Linemen Banged Up
First, it was the report that Tyler Guyton was still in concussion protocol after leaving the Packers game early. Then, Cowboys insider Clarence Hill Jr. provided a surprise injury update that complicates matters even more for head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Per Hill, left guard Tyler Smith didn't practice today because of a lower leg injury. While his status for the rest of the week and the Jets game is up in the air since Smith reportedly didn't "reveal the results of the imaging," this is a disappointing development for the Cowboys.
Even though Smith is off to a slower start this season, just like the rest of the o-line, he has been a reliable constant for this unit over the last several years. This earned him a massive contract extension this fall that made him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. Potentially losing a player of his caliber will undoubtedly hurt an already struggling group.
This also means that four out of five starters on the Cowboys OL are currently banged up. Only Beebe has already been ruled out, as Guyton, Smith, and Booker's availability will be clearer later in the week. This gives an opportunity for backup offensive linemen down the pecking order.
Brock Hoffman will continue to start at center, and TJ Bass, who started in place of Booker in Week 4, will likely be the next man up once again. Nate Thomas, who got the first offensive snaps of his career on Sunday after Guyton's exit, will be an option at either left or right tackle as needed. Offseason additions Hakeem Adeniji and Trevor Keegan are the other depth options on the offensive line, who will wait for their numbers to be called if the injury crisis worsens.
On one hand, Cowboys fans might think that the offensive line play couldn't be any worse, so this is not that big of a deal. On the other hand, lack of continuity and familiarity with the offensive line could really hurt Dak Prescott, who is off to a blazing hot start. We should get a better idea of where the offensive line is over the next few days, but it's safe to say that the Cowboys shouldn't need their entire roster healthy to beat the 0-4 Jets.