The Dallas Cowboys have made significant roster changes after Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith was placed on injured reserve due to a thumb injury requiring surgery. Smith is anticipated to be out for four to six weeks, leading the team to elevate Nick Leverett from the practice squad to the active roster.
Although Leverett is joining the active roster, he is not expected to start immediately. Instead, T.J. Bass is likely to step in as the starting left guard, bringing with him 10 career starts and a good understanding of the team's offensive system.
Leverett, who began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent from Rice University in 2020, has prior experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he started 10 games from 2021 to 2023. He also had brief tenures 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 added veteran offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson to their practice squad. Tomlinson, a former first-round draft pick by the Detroit Lions in 2015, has extensive experience, having started 162 games in his career, including seven games last season with the Houston Texans.
These strategic moves come as the Cowboys seek to maintain their offensive line's stability after Smith's injury as the season begins.
