Cowboys get good news on LT Tyron Smith; ankle sprain may be short-term

Cowboys get good news on LT Tyron Smith; ankle sprain may be short-term

FRISCO - When Tyron Smith went limping off the Superdome turf in obvious pain, there was some Cowboys Nation concern that Dallas' chances of true contention went limping off with him. But good news on the day after New Orleans: The Pro Bowl left tackle's ankle injury may limit him for no more than two weeks, a source tells CowboysSI.com.

On a day when all is not quite right here inside The Star in Frisco -- there is the matter of the 12-10 loss to the Saints and there are a couple of other injury issues as well -- the Cowboys really could not have asked for better news than they received from their medical people after Monday morning tests on Tyron's ankle.

He left the game on the final series, in serious pain, and was the last guy into the visitor's locker room. He left the Superdome and boarded the team place home to DFW wearing a walking boot.

But now? While it is a high right ankle sprain, the Cowboys are committing to him certainly missing this weekend's visit from the Green Bay Packers but are hopeful he may return to work sometime shortly after that.

Smith is a key piece in what is one of the NFL's best offensive lines, and a key piece in what was -- until Dallas sustained its first loss of the year, anyway -- one of the NFL's best offenses. For now, it's likely that Cam Fleming replaces him at left guard (with the position flex of Connor Williams possibly in play). But the replacement will, it seems be for the short term.Kavon Frazier, a core special-teamer, will be able to rehab from a pectoral tear sustained in New Orleans, though surgery is also possible.