Tyron Smith Named Cowboys 'Biggest Bust'?
Training camp looms large, the offseason is nearly behind us and NFL football is close to returning. With that, of course, comes anticipation and much speculation.
One nagging question for the Dallas Cowboys this season: Who is in line to possibly be their most disappointing player? Whether it be injury, a young player replacing a veteran starter or even a scheme fit, it's difficult to predict players not performing up to expectations.
As the Cowboys prepare to report to Oxnard for training camp July 24, Bleacher Report made their prediction for every team's "biggest bust" for the upcoming season. Their selection for the Cowboys? Offensive tackle Tyron Smith. ... and yes, we have some bones to pick here.
Now 32, the eight-time Pro Bowl lineman has dealt with injuries throughout his career. He's played only 17 games over the last three seasons, and made only four starts in 2022 after suffering a torn hamstring during the preseason. The last time Smith played a full season was 2015.
Sometimes, availability can be the best ability, and the offensive tackle hasn't been healthy enough to contribute. As Bleacher Report writes, age has seemingly caught up to Smith ...
He earned a 58.6 grade from PFF on 271 snaps. That's a stark contrast from the 91.4 he scored in 2021.Maybe that was just because he made the switch to the right side after years and year of playing on the left. But more likely, it was because the injuries have caught up to him and he can no longer play at an elite level.
We're not worried about the grades. Let's look at the most recent injury - and Tyron's rehab from it. CowboysSI.com was at practice at Ford Center when Tyron went down while simply jogging upfield following a play. There was nothing about the event that reflected poorly on his age or his fitness. It was a fluke.
And then let's look at this: Tyron had every reason to fold up the 2022 tent after that. He could've skipped rehab and eased into retirement and no smart Cowboys person would've griped. Instead, he fought back and amazed medical people with a recovery that put him back on the field at season's end.
Entering camp, Smith is possibly back to his familiar left tackle position with second-year Tyler Smith sliding to left guard. The folks at BR and PFF can choose skepticism about how this is going to work. But at CowboysSI.com? We know Tyron Smith. And "bust'' will never, ever be the right word.
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