Cowboys Lose All-Pro Tackle "For Months" Due To Hamstring Injury At Practice

The Dallas Cowboys offensive line will start the 2022 NFL Season shorthanded as All-Pro Left Tackle Tyron Smith will reportedly be out "for months" due to a torn left hamstring injury suffered during Wednesday's practice.

According to ESPN NFL Nation's Todd Archer, he reports that Smith's ACL "remained intact" which was the initial worst-case scenario for the team. Although the former 8-time Pro Bowler's 2022 season is not over, it looks as though the Cowboys and Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore will have to come up with new ways to protect Quarterback Dak Prescott with pressure from the left edge, as well as Running Back Ezekiel Elliott's zone run game outside the numbers.

More on Cowboys’ LT Tyron Smith suffering a torn hamstring during Wednesday’s practice that will sideline him indefinitely, sources tell @toddarcher and me.https://t.co/Yk8IzMKZ1e
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2022

At this point in the preseason, it would be foolish to think that the Cowboys would be able to replace Smith, a former 2-time 1st Team All-Pro and 2-time 2nd Team All-Pro at the Left Tackle position with rookies and/or backup lineman, but they will surely have to carry on with business as the NFL Regular Season is nearly upon us.

Where do the Cowboys go from here at Left Tackle?

Right now the Cowboys backup Left Tackle according to Ourlads.com is Matt Waletzko, a 22-year old rookie selected in this past NFL Draft out of North Dakota. Although a 4-year starter for the Fighting Hawks, the 6'8, 308 pounder will have an enormous amount of pressure if relied upon to be Dallas' starting Left Tackle in Week 1. Ironically enough, the Cowboys selected Waletzko 155th overall, which was the pick they had acquired from the Cleveland Browns when they shipped out All-Pro Wide Receiver Amari Cooper during the offseason.

The Cowboys finish off their preseason with a home matchup vs the Seattle Seahawks on Friday Night and will have a week to prepare for Tom Brady and the potent Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football, kicking off the first NFL Sunday of the 2022 Regular Season. Both of those games will take place at "Jerry World" in Dallas, without #77 suiting up for America's Team.