Tyrone Smith Trending Towards a Return

Despite suffering an injury during training camp and being placed on injured reserve, Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyrone Smith is trending toward a return. Jerry Jones said Sunday that Smith will return to practice this week. It's still too early to tell if he'll be active in Week 5 against the Texans, but if he is, it could affect the O-line's configuration.

The Cowboys currently have a 6-2 record going into Week 9's bye. The offensive line has played well so far, allowing just six sacks and seven pressures during the first eight games. They have a 79.1% run block win-rate, which is better than their season average of 81.1%. However, they have also been beat in the first half of games, as the offense has been consistently outplayed in the first quarter. This was especially evident in the Week 6 loss to the Colts, when they allowed four turnovers in the fourth quarter.

In his rookie season, Smith played on the defense and special teams, but did not play a single snap on offense. He recorded five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He also had a kickoff return against Ohio State. In his second season, he appeared in eight games. He recorded two stops against Eastern Michigan and Kent State.

It's unclear if Connor McGovern will move into the left guard role when Smith returns. The current starting five has played every snap, and they've combined for zero sacks and seven pressures. This is a positive sign, and it could make for a smooth transition when Smith returns.

In the meantime, Tyrone Smith replacement is rookie first-rounder Tyler Smith. Smith has filled in for Smith in the past few weeks, but he hasn't worked as a starter. His primary job has been as a fill-in at left tackle. He's ranked 55th in the NFL at that position, but he's playing well. When he moves to the guard spot, he'll be an ideal candidate for a larger role on the defensive line.

Ultimately, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy may opt to keep Smith on the sideline. The team has already seen Mekhi Becton miss the entire season with a hamstring injury, and Smith hasn't played much this year. Having both Becton and Smith sidelined for an extended period of time would be difficult to overcome. In fact, it's possible that coach McCarthy could want to leave Smith on the sideline for the rest of the season.

While it's too early to say what the Cowboys' offensive line will look like when Smith returns, it's clear that the team is looking forward to having him back. Whether or not he can be ready for game action will depend on how he recovers, but he'll likely be ready in time for the final four weeks of the regular season.

With Smith's return in December, the Cowboys will have to decide what kind of configuration they want on the offensive line. The team's offensive line has performed beyond expectations so far, but they'll need to decide if they want to rely on the younger Smith or bring in another veteran. If they decide to add a new piece, the decision will be a tough one.