Cowboys might just have another Tony Romo situation on their hands

The Dallas Cowboys are in a tough spot with Tyron Smith expected to miss the majority — if not the entire — 2022 NFL season. Dallas already has question marks along the offensive line. Losing an All-Pro talent like Smith does no favors. Fortunately, this is not unfamiliar territory for the Cowboys. According to Cowboys […]

Cole Patterson
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Dallas Cowboys
Jun 14, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy (L) and CEO Stephen Jones (R) on the field during minicamp at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys are in a tough spot with Tyron Smith expected to miss the majority — if not the entire — 2022 NFL season. Dallas already has question marks along the offensive line. Losing an All-Pro talent like Smith does no favors.

Fortunately, this is not unfamiliar territory for the Cowboys.

According to Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones, the Cowboys can look back on a recent example on how to handle a situation like this. Jones compares Tyron Smith going down to Tony Romo going down during the 2016 preseason.

Romo's injury thrusted rookie Dak Prescott into action. Prescott took advantage and never looked back. The rest, as they say, is history.

Jones sees a similar situation brewing with rookie offensive lineman Tyler Smith. Dallas drafted the rookie in the first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Tyron Smith's injury looks to have forced the younger Smith into a bigger role than expected.

"From the get-go, we said that (Tyler Smith) is our future at left tackle," Jones said on Friday. "Not unlike Dak — five years ago, six years ago, whatever it was. He had to step up when Tony got hurt. We didn't go get a veteran quarterback."

That all but shuts down the speculation that the Cowboys are going to add an outside player at the position. Furthermore, Dallas obviously is confident in their ability to identify and develop talent, and do not see the need to add insurance at tackle.

Tyler Smith has mostly been working at guard this offseason. He had been competing with Connor McGovern for the starting left guard spot. Now, those plans are out the window.

Dallas drafted Smith in the first-round for a reason. The Cowboys are not going to waste any time to find out what they have in the former Tulsa blocker. Bold move.

But, if everything works out like Dallas hopes, there will be another Smith protecting Cowboys quarterbacks' blindsides for the next decade.

Featured image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

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