Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith will undergo surgery Tuesday to repair a ligament tear in his left thumb and is headed for injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the first four games of the regular season. The earliest Smith could return is Oct. 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a short week, or Oct. 18 versus the Green Bay Packers. Coach Brian Schottenheimer emphasized the importance of grip strength for offensive linemen and praised Smith's toughness, noting the 25-year-old has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, joining franchise legends Larry Allen and Zack Martin. Smith has dealt with various injuries in recent years, including knee, ankle, hamstring, and foot issues, and had a clean-up surgery on his right knee in February.

T.J. Bass will step into the starting lineup. Bass has started 10 games in three seasons and received a second-round restricted free agent tender worth $5.7 million this offseason. Schottenheimer expressed strong confidence in Bass, highlighting his familiarity playing next to center Cooper Beebe and left tackle Tyler Guyton. "We tendered him the way we tendered him because we trust this guy as a football player," Schottenheimer said.