Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer looks on during the game between the Cowboys and the Saints at AT&T Stadium.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Dallas Cowboys will begin the new season without a key piece, as guard Tyler Smith has undergone surgery for his thumb injury. He will be sidelined for four to six weeks.
Smith's absence has left a hole on the Cowboys' offensive line, and it did not take long for coach Brian Schottenheimer to make a roster move ahead of their game against the New York Giants on Sunday in Week 1.
According to ESPN's Todd Archer, guard Nick Leverett has been called up.
“The Cowboys are signing OL Nick Leverett to the active roster from the practice squad, per source. With Tyler Smith (thumb) out for 4-6 weeks, Leverett can serve as the backup interior lineman on game day,” wrote Archer on X.
Leverett was part of the final cuts in the 53-man roster, relegating him to the practice squad. The Cowboys signed him as a free agent in November before getting a new contract in January.
He went undrafted in 2020 out of Rice. He played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England Patriots before being signed by the Arizona Cardinals to the practice squad.
Leverett appeared in one game for the Cowboys last season.
Guard TJ Bass will take the place of Smith, a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, in the starting unit.
Obviously, not having Smith for at least four games is not ideal for Dallas, but the offensive unit has enough talent, depth, and balance to offset his absence, especially with center Cooper Beebe and offensive tackles Tyler Booker and Tyler Guyton in battle mode.