With All-Pro Tyler Smith sidelined, T.J. Bass steps into the spotlight. Dak Prescott expresses total confidence in his new protector as the high-octane offense heads to MetLife.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys' smooth offseason hit its first speed bump this week when we learned that All-Pro guard Tyler Smith would miss four to six weeks with a thumb injury.
There was controversy involved leading up to the Tuesday surgery; when did he injury the ligament? What did they know and when did they know it?
But now?
Attention turns to who will step in for Smith at guard, and luckily for Dallas, that is a position where its depth is at its strongest.
Enter T.J. Bass.
With a total of 48 games of experience and 10 starts. Bass has a track record. They view their "sixth man'' as being starting-caliber, and they can boast about the fact that when he has been called upon to join the first team, Dallas (as noted by ESPN) has rushed for 91 or more yards eight times and topped 200 yards twice.
"TJ's a true pro," QB Dak Prescott said. "I don't know the number of starts TJ has under his belt, but it's it's a good number, he's come into the game and done exactly his job well. Obviously, you're missing a guy like Tyler, it sucks, but when you've got a guy like TJ, you don't even flinch."
The Dallas front office established this thinking last spring when it retained him with a second-round tender and paid him $5.76 million for one year.
But stepping in for a player like Smith can be a little daunting, but such is Dak's confidence in Bass; he doesn't even need to give him a pep talk because he knows what TJ brings to the offense.
"I don't even know if it's not even necessary to give him extra motivation," Prescott said. "That guy's a pro. He's ready to play. I'm sure he's excited for his opportunity, and he knows how much it means to the rest of the guys that he does his job and he fills in the right way for Tyler."
So, all eyes will be on MetLife Stadium on Sunday night as the Cowboys take on the New York Giants ... and they will have to do it without Smith, who is arguably the best player (regardless of position) on the roster.
But in Bass, Dallas employs what it believes is the right player to step into that role and keep this high-octane offense rolling.
