Cowboys' update on critical player will prove to be key on upcoming decision
The Dallas Cowboys have kicked off their OTAs and are preparing for mandatory minicamp at the beginning of June, signaling that football will be back before you know it. As is the case every season, some players are getting over lingering injuries and aliments for the Cowboys and will either be limited or won't participate […]
The Dallas Cowboys have kicked off their OTAs and are preparing for mandatory minicamp at the beginning of June, signaling that football will be back before you know it.
As is the case every season, some players are getting over lingering injuries and aliments for the Cowboys and will either be limited or won't participate in these activities. Well, one of the Cowboys' most important players fits that statement in 2023.
Right tackle Terence Steele, who is working his back from a torn ACL, will be sidelined.
Steele has gone from a once-maligned weakness to one of the best offensive linemen the Cowboys have and one of the better right tackles in the NFL. For a lot of teams, this would be a major loss, but the Cowboys have an ace in the hole.
Veteran and future Hall of Famer, Tyron Smith, did a more than solid job of filling in for Steele on the right side last season after he went down. So, when the Cowboys were at practice on Thursday, Smith took all of his reps at right tackle while Tyler Smith keeps his focus on playing left tackle.
A little intriguing was dropped by Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News recently. He said that a healthy Smith not being the starter at right tackle would surprise him.
Smith will likely remain on the right side for now, at least for the most part which will be helpful seeing as last season was the first time he played on the right side since he was a rookie. If he excels, that would give the Cowboys something to think about going forward as to who starts between him and Steele because the other would be the swing tackle if the goal is to keep Tyler at left tackle and let guys like Asim Richards and Chuma Edoga battle at left guard.
If the mission for the Cowboys is to get the best five linemen on the field then that includes Steele and Smith when healthy. So, the smarter thing would be to slide Tyler inside to guard which he proved he can do in his 121 snaps there last season, and let Tyron play left tackle and Steele play right tackle.
Steele is progressing nicely in his rehab so there's no need to rush him back at the moment, he's too vital to the Cowboys' success offensively. Simply let Smith do his thing for the time being, and once Steele hits the field, the Cowboys will be good regardless with all of their big boys healthy.
