The Dallas Cowboys might be playing with an entirely new offensive line by Week 7 if the injuries to the unit keep piling up at the rate that they have been.
According to franchise beat writer Clarence Hill Jr., Tyler Smith received an MRI on Wednesday due to a lower leg injury. It's unknown at this time if the standout left guard will practice at all this week or be good to go for the Cowboys in their Week 5 showdown with the New York Jets; the organization did not disclose the results of the medical testing.
Smith played the entire game with no issues in Dallas' Week 4 tie with the Green Bay Packers, so his injury certainly comes as a surprise.
Additionally, left tackle Tyler Guyton remains in the concussion protocol for the Cowboys following a tough battle with Micah Parsons and the Packers. Guyton left the game early and did not practice on Wednesday as he waits to be cleared for gridiron action by the league. He could potentially return in time to face the Jets.
Smith and Guyton join a third lineman -- guard Tyler Booker -- on Dallas' latest injury report. Booker suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears and hasn't been able to practice since. Reports from the Cowboys say that Booker was in a walking boot on Sunday night, but did not appear to be wearing it on Monday. At this time, the team has not determined whether or not he will be placed on the injured reserve, which would keep the the rookie lineman from playing until at least Week 9.
Let's not forget Cooper Beebe, who was injured late in the team's victory over the New York Giants in Week 2. The starting center is currently battling an ankle sprain and a fractured bone in his foot and will be sidelined until the first week of November at the earliest.
Realistically, Dallas could easily be down four starting offensive linemen on Sunday. The Jets might not have one of the top defenses in the league, but they've got some talented defensive linemen who can hold their own and make opposing offenses pay.
The Cowboys' have a few days to try and find the best possible combination of offensive linemen to work with and potentially scout out some free agents if necessary.
Right tackle Terence Steele will have to be the veteran presence on the line, as he's the only Week 1 starter currently expected to play. Brock Hoffman has started at center for the past two games, and TJ Bass made his first start against Green Bay in place of Booker, so those two at least have some experience. If needed, Nate Thomas and Trevor Keegan should move up in place of Guyton and Smith, respectively.
If any other lineman goes down with an injury, the only uninjured options remaining per Dallas' official depth chart are second-string right tackle Hakeem Adeniji and third-string right tackle Ajani Cornelius -- if either of them are versatile enough to move around the line.
Who knows, Smith's injury could be far less significant than it seems, and Guyton might be cleared from the concussion protocol soon; the offensive line might not be in such a dire place with injuries. At this point, though, things are trending in the wrong direction.