The Dallas Cowboys have made roster adjustments following the injury of Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith, who has been placed on the injured reserve list due to a thumb injury that requires surgery. Smith is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks, prompting the Cowboys to promote veteran interior lineman Nick Leverett from their practice squad to the active roster.
While Leverett joins the active roster, he is not anticipated to step into the starting position immediately. Instead, T.J. Bass is expected to take over as the starting left guard, bringing with him 10 career starts and familiarity with the team's offensive scheme.
Leverett, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Rice University in 2020, has experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played from 2021 to 2023, starting 10 games. He also had stints with the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals in 2024, where he worked with Cowboys offensive coordinator Clayton Adams.
In a corresponding move, the Cowboys signed veteran offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson to their practice squad. Tomlinson, a former first-round pick in 2015 by the Detroit Lions, has a wealth of experience, having started 162 games throughout his career, including seven games last year with the Houston Texans.
These moves come as the Cowboys aim to maintain stability on their offensive line after the loss of Smith just as the season is set to begin. The front office's timely actions reflect their commitment to addressing the challenges posed by Smith's injury.
