Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy shared an update on the statuses of offensive lineman Zack Martin as well as offensive tackle Tyron Smith ahead of the team’s Week 16 game against the Miami Dolphins.
Martin left the team’s loss in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills with a quad injury and has not practiced this week.
Smith has also failed to practice this week after suffering a back injury against Buffalo.
According to McCarthy, Martin is further along than Smith in terms of having a chance to play against Miami.
Cowboys RG Zack Martin left Sunday’s game in Buffalo with a quad injury. LT Tyron Smith suffered a back injury during the game. They have not practiced this week.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy this morning on @1053thefan: “I would say Zack is ahead of Tyron right now.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 22, 2023
On Dallas’ depth chart, Chuma Edoga is listed as the backup to Smith at left tackle. Martin’s backup is offensive lineman T.J. Bass.
An eight-time Pro Bowler, Smith is one of the best left tackles in the NFL when he is healthy. He has appeared in 11 games for Dallas this season, and the team is 8-3 in those matchups.
Edoga, a third-round pick by the New York Jets in the 2019 NFL Draft, has played in 14 games for the Cowboys this season, making five starts. He’s played 35 percent of the team’s offensive snaps.
Replacing Smith won’t be easy, as Pro Football Focus has him graded as the No. 3 offensive tackle in the NFL this season with an 83.9 grade.
As for Martin, he’s an eight-time Pro Bowler as well as a six-time first-team All-Pro. He’s played in 13 games for the Cowboys this season and been an anchor on the team’s offensive line since being drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Bass, who is in his first NFL season, has appeared in 14 games for Dallas, making just one start. This would be a tough spot for him to be thrown into the starting lineup, especially since Dallas is looking to hold off the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.
Miami would certainly love to avoid facing Martin and Smith, as they would make things tough on the team’s pass rush.
The Dolphins have a tough schedule to close the season, facing the Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens and Bills over the final three weeks. A win in Week 16 would go a long way toward Miami locking up a top seed in the AFC.
