The Dallas Cowboys have adjusted their roster after Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith was placed on injured reserve due to a thumb injury that necessitates surgery. Smith is projected to be out for four to six weeks, leading the team to elevate veteran interior lineman Nick Leverett from the practice squad to the active roster.
While Leverett is now on the active roster, he is not expected to start right away. T.J. Bass is anticipated to step in as the starting left guard, bringing with him 10 career starts and a solid understanding of the team's offensive system.
Leverett, who began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent from Rice University in 2020, has played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2021 to 2023, where he started 10 games. He also had brief tenures with the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals in 2024, working alongside Cowboys offensive coordinator Clayton Adams.
In addition to promoting Leverett, the Cowboys have signed veteran offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson to their practice squad. Tomlinson, a first-round draft 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 moves come as the Cowboys seek to maintain their offensive line's stability with the season approaching.
