What did Jerry Jones say about Tyler Smith replacing Tyron Smith at left tackle?
The Cowboys owner has declared rookie Tyler Smith to be a potential fix at left tackle despite using him as a guard during preseason.
The Dallas Cowboys are looking for a solution at left tackle following Tyron Smith’s potentially season-ending injury and Jerry Jones believes his team uncovered it in the 2022 NFL Draft.
During an appearance on KRLD-FM radio show 105.3 The Fan, Jones stated that the franchise sees Tyler Smith, a rookie recruited in the first round of draft, as the solution to Tyron’s layoff and as a potential franchise player of the future.
“We looked at how to get him on the field as soon as possible and we thought that with Tyron healthy at the start of camp the best thing was to put him at guard,” the Cowboys owner said. “However, I think his long-term future in the NFL is at left tackle. That’s why we drafted him in the first round, to be our tackle of the future.”
Smith set for Week 1 start against Bucs
Smith missed the last week of practice due to an ankle injury and didn’t get on the field against the Seattle Seahawks in the Cowboys’ final preseason game, but Jones is confident that won’t prevent the rookie from starting against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL Kickoff.
“We have to have him practice for the next week to see if there’s a problem with a little sprain in his ankle, but I don’t think it’s serious enough to limit his preparation,” Jones said.
The Cowboys selected Smith with the 24th pick in round one of the draft. During the Scouting Combine, the 21-year-old Tulsa Golden Hurricane alum clocked 5.02 seconds for the 40-yard dash, 7.78s for the three-cone drill and a vertical jump of 27.5 inches.