Dallas Cowboys’ Tyron Smith Injury; What’s Biggest Need at Trade Deadline?

Dallas Cowboys’ Tyron Smith Injury; What’s Biggest Need at Trade Deadline?

The Dallas Cowboys made a statement on Sunday with a 43-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium. And they did it with a backup at left tackle. 

By the end of the game, it should have been obvious to Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones what the target of any potential trade deadline deal should be. That deadline comes at 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday.

Regular Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith, was a late scratch on Sunday, which forced Chuma Edoga into action. Edoga got off to a slow start, allowing a sack of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on Dallas' very first play from scrimmage. But late in the fourth quarter, Edoga went down with an apparent leg injury. He had to be taken to the locker room on a cart.

Early indications are nothing more than a low ankle sprain, and Edoga might not miss any time. 

Dallas Cowboys offensive line / FanStreamSports.com

Smith suffered a neck stinger early in the week but was expected to play.

“Actually, we all thought Tyron was going to go, until the last second. Probably the better part of valor was to not play him today,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said following the win.

But now? The Cowboys are making No promises about Tyron this week at Philly. And all things considered, doesn’t that make O-line the “obvious” big roster need?

Rookie Asim Richards finished the game protecting quarterback Dak Prescott's blind side. But that's probably not the ideal long-term plan for the rest of the season if injuries persist, especially in a season that Dallas hopes results in a long playoff run.

The Cowboys face an incredibly physical defensive front this week from the Philadelphia Eagles, the team Dallas is chasing for the NFC East lead. With a hobbled Smith, Edoga, and a young Richards at left tackle, the Cowboys might not be in the best position to protect their quarterback in potentially the biggest game of the season on the horizon.

But Jones doesn't seem concerned. (Well, maybe a little bit.)

“Thank goodness we’ve got some good depth. We’ve been developing depth,” Jones said. “I feel good about our offensive line. Everybody in the league is looking for starting offensive linemen. Everybody. If you really look at our team right now, the biggest need is depth on the offensive line. Really. More so than anyplace else. Starting kind of depth.”

While Jones appears to be comfortable with where the offensive line is, the answer might just be health rather than a new face at left tackle. Only time - and the Tuesday trade deadline - will tell.