The Dallas Cowboys are just days away from starting off their season with a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants. Big things are expected from Dallas in 2023, and this team will be looking to build off their playoff run from last season.
Unfortunately, Monday’s practice did not exactly yield the expected results, particularly on the injury front. This is after it was reported that starting left guard Tyler Smith was forced to exit due to a hamstring problem.
Dallas Cowboys OL Tyler Smith Leaves Practice Due to Hamstring Injury
As reported by beat reporter Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Smith was forced to leave practice on Monday due to a hamstring injury:
“Cowboys LG Tyler Smith exited practice today with hamstring discomfort, a person familiar with the situation said. Initial belief is it’s minor,” Gehlken wrote in his tweet.
The good news for Cowboys fans is that the injury does not sound serious. Smith is expected to undergo tests to determine his status ahead of Dallas’ season opener. However, given how the team initially considers the injury to be “minor,” it does sound like the 22-year-old should be good to go for Sunday’s bout against the Giants.
If Smith is ultimately ruled out, though, Chuma Edoga or rookie Asim Richards will be the two options head coach Mike McCarthy will have as potential replacements.
Tyler Smith Looking Sounds Off on Big Year Ahead
Tyler Smith will be looking to build on a very promising rookie campaign that saw him play 1,022 snaps at left tackle, as well as 121 at left guard. At this point, however, even Smith himself admits that this is a thing of the past. Dallas’ No. 24 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is now looking ahead to an even more impactful sophomore year.
“My biggest focus for this year is just improvement through and through. Whether it be technique, you know just understanding the scheme and things of that nature… The training wheels are off, it’s just time to continue to improve,” Smith said, via Arnold Payne of ABC.
“… I’m gonna have to go harder than I did last season. I’m gonna have to give more than I did last season, and just to improve on my process.”
This is exactly the type of stuff Dallas fans want to hear from their young OL. Hopefully, this hamstring issue does not hinder him from his goals, which incidentally, also includes winning a Super Bowl trophy in the near future.
“The only goal we got is the Super Bowl. We got the squad to do it and the time is now, we’re not waiting around. You know we’re not about to wait around for things to fall into place. You know we’re trying to eat, let the dogs out,” he said.
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