The Dallas Cowboys have made significant roster changes in response to the injury of Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith, who has been placed on the injured reserve list due to a thumb injury requiring surgery. Smith is expected to be out for four to six weeks, leading the Cowboys to promote veteran interior lineman Nick Leverett from their practice squad to the active roster.
While Leverett joins the team, he is not expected to start immediately. T.J. Bass is anticipated to take over as the starting left guard, bringing valuable experience with 10 career starts and familiarity with the Cowboys' offensive scheme.
Leverett, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Rice University in 2020, has played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2021 to 2023, where he started 10 games. He also had brief stints with the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals, where he worked with Cowboys offensive coordinator Clayton Adams.
In a related 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 extensive experience, having started 162 games in his career, including seven games last year with the Houston Texans. These adjustments reflect the Cowboys' commitment to maintaining a strong offensive line as the season progresses.
