Monday brought the very welcomes sight of the 2026 Dallas Cowboys hitting the field in preparation for their first contest of the 2026 regular season. The practices are once again closed to the general public, but the local media did their thing in documenting the early portions of individual drills.
Unfortunately, one key member of the team was nowhere to be found. Left guard Tyler Smith was not doing individual drills. He also wasn't doing any work with the rehab group, leading to a bit of a mystery to start the first week of the season.
No Tyler Smith during the media portion viewing of Cowboys practice today. We’ll find out more from Brian Schottenheimer this afternoon.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) September 7, 2026
Smith has started all 63 games he's appeared in over his first four seasons,
the last three of which he's been named to the Pro Bowl. He was also a second-team All-Pro during the 2023 campaign, his first at left guard where he's spent the majority of the last three seasons.
At times, he's kicked back out to left tackle, where he played as a rookie, whenever left tackle Tyler Guyton has been too banged up to play.
Smith is part of a strong interior protection group for quarterback Dak Prescott, and is considered one of the game's best guards. If this turns out to be something that impacts the starting lineup for Sunday night's matchup with the New York Giants, TJ Bass is the likely replacement at the position.
More to come.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys 3x Pro Bowl OL missing from Monday's practice ahead of Week 1
