BREAKING: After Tyler Smith’s Injury, Brian Schottenheimer Makes a Major Decision
The Dallas Cowboys have been hit with a major setback just days before the start of the 2026 NFL regular season.
Three-time Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith is expected to miss the first several games of the season after suffering a thumb injury that will require surgery. Following the development, head coach Brian Schottenheimer has made a significant decision about how the Cowboys will move forward on the offensive line.
Smith is scheduled to undergo surgery and will be placed on injured reserve with a designation to return. The procedure is expected to keep him sidelined for approximately four to six weeks, meaning Dallas will have to begin the season without one of its most important offensive linemen.
Schottenheimer Makes His Decision
Rather than rushing Smith back or searching for an outside replacement, Schottenheimer has decided to turn to T.J. Bass.
Bass is expected to take over as the Cowboys’ starting left guard while Smith recovers. The move may initially look like a major gamble, but Schottenheimer made it clear that Dallas has significant confidence in the young offensive lineman.
“We feel really confident in T.J.,” Schottenheimer said, emphasizing that Bass has already shown he can perform at a high level within the Cowboys’ system.
The decision also reflects the team’s offseason planning. Dallas retained Bass on a second-round restricted free-agent tender because the coaching staff viewed him as a valuable piece of its offensive-line depth.
Now, that investment is being tested much earlier than anyone expected.
Why Smith’s Injury Changes Everything
Smith’s absence is particularly important because of his role in protecting quarterback Dak Prescott and helping establish the Cowboys’ running game.
The 2022 first-round pick developed into one of the league’s better interior offensive linemen after transitioning from left tackle to guard. He has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the past three seasons, making him a central part of Dallas’ offensive identity.
But the Cowboys and Smith ultimately determined that continuing to play through the injury was no longer the best option.
Schottenheimer explained that Smith felt he could not perform the necessary tasks at his normal level. For an offensive lineman, thumb strength and grip are particularly important, making the decision to undergo surgery understandable even with the season about to begin.
Instead of allowing the problem to linger, Dallas chose the longer-term approach: fix the injury now and get Smith healthy for the most important part of the season.
T.J. Bass Gets His Opportunity
For Bass, this is more than simply filling a temporary vacancy.
The fourth-year lineman has already made 10 career starts for Dallas, including five starts last season. During training camp, he also received opportunities to work with the first-team offensive line.
That previous experience could be extremely valuable.
According to the Cowboys, Bass has already played alongside players such as Cooper Beebe and Tyler Guyton, meaning the communication and chemistry required on the interior should not be completely unfamiliar to him.
Last season, Bass also showed encouraging pass-protection numbers in limited action. The Cowboys therefore believe they have a legitimate in-house replacement rather than simply a temporary emergency option.
Schottenheimer’s confidence was unmistakable.
The coach essentially suggested that Bass’ opportunity is a reflection of the team’s belief in him all along: he has been waiting behind several established players, and now he finally has the chance to prove what he can do with an expanded role.
A Difficult Opening Stretch
The timing could hardly be more challenging.
Dallas is preparing for a difficult early portion of the schedule, with the Cowboys scheduled to face the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans during the first four weeks.
That puts immediate pressure on Bass and the rest of the offensive line.
The Cowboys cannot afford major communication problems or protection breakdowns while Smith is unavailable. Dak Prescott will need consistent protection, while the running game will depend heavily on the offensive line maintaining its assignments.
The good news for Dallas is that Smith’s absence is expected to be temporary.
When Could Tyler Smith Return?
Because Smith is being placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, he will have to miss at least four games.
He could technically become eligible to return in Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, although the short turnaround surrounding that Thursday night matchup could make that timeline difficult. Another potential return date could come later in October.
For now, the Cowboys appear willing to be patient.
The goal is not simply to get Smith back onto the field as quickly as possible. The priority is getting him completely healthy so he can return to being the dominant offensive lineman Dallas expects him to be.
The Bigger Message From Schottenheimer
Perhaps the most important takeaway from the decision is what it says about the Cowboys’ confidence in their roster.
Losing a three-time Pro Bowl guard immediately before the regular season would force many teams into panic mode.
Schottenheimer is taking a different approach.
Instead of dramatically reshuffling the offensive line, Dallas is trusting the depth it developed during the offseason. Bass now has an opportunity to show that he belongs among the Cowboys’ core offensive-line pieces.
For Smith, the message is equally clear: take care of the injury now, recover properly and prepare for the long season ahead.
For Bass, however, the situation represents a career-changing opportunity.
The spotlight is now on him.
And with the Cowboys preparing for the opening game of the season, Brian Schottenheimer has made his decision: T.J. Bass will be the man asked to protect Dallas’ offensive line until Tyler Smith is ready to return.
The Cowboys will now find out whether their confidence in Bass was justified.
