The Dallas Cowboys have adjusted their roster in response to the injury of Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith, who has been placed on injured reserve due to a thumb injury requiring surgery. Smith is projected to be out for four to six weeks, leading the Cowboys to elevate veteran interior lineman Nick Leverett from the practice squad to the active roster.
Although Leverett joins the active roster, he is not expected to start immediately. T.J. Bass is anticipated to take over as the starting left guard, bringing experience with 10 career starts and an understanding of the team’s offensive scheme.
Leverett entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Rice University in 2020 and has played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2021 to 2023, where he started 10 games. He also had stints with the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals in 2024, where he collaborated with Cowboys offensive coordinator Clayton Adams.
In a related move, the Cowboys signed Laken Tomlinson, a veteran offensive lineman, to their practice squad. Tomlinson, a first-round pick in 2015 by the Detroit Lions, has extensive experience, having started 162 games in his career, including seven games last season with the Houston Texans. These roster changes reflect the Cowboys' efforts to maintain stability on their offensive line as the season begins.
