DALLAS — Troy Aikman said keeping Dak Prescott healthy is the key for the Dallas Cowboys and that the offensive line took a hit this week. Aikman spoke Tuesday on The Rich Eisen Show, a day after Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith would go on injured reserve.
Smith needs surgery on his left thumb. The procedure was scheduled for Tuesday, and Schottenheimer said Smith could be out four to six weeks. Injured reserve carries a four-game minimum, so Smith cannot play again until Week 5 at the earliest. T.J. Bass takes his place in the starting lineup.
Aikman believes Dallas could be a real contender this season and into the postseason.
“And then can the offense continue to do what they’ve done?” Aikman said. “There’s no reason to think that they can’t. Offensive line took a hit this week. And then the key, of course, as it is for every team is, can they keep the quarterback healthy? And Dak, he has had some injury issues over the years.”
“And I think that’s the frustrating thing for Cowboys fans is last year, he was healthy,” Aikman continued. “The offense played exceptionally well, and yet they failed to make the postseason. But all those things will be key once again.”
Prescott started all 17 games last season. He completed 404 of 600 passes for 4,552 yards with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, a 99.5 passer rating, made the Pro Bowl and finished third in Comeback Player of the Year voting. Dallas went 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs.
Troy Aikman On Dak Prescott’s Injury History
Prescott has played 75 of a possible 101 regular-season games since 2020. An ankle injury ended his 2020 season after five games. A hamstring injury ended his 2024 season after eight. He has played a full schedule in six of his 10 seasons and is 83-55-1 as a starter.
The offense did not carry the shortfall. Dallas scored 471 points, seventh in the NFL, and gained 6,663 yards, second. George Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns and was named second-team All-Pro. Javonte Williams ran 252 times for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb caught 75 passes for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games.
Aikman said the comments he has heard from Dallas players about new defensive coordinator Christian Parker have been positive.
“I’m excited about Dallas,” Aikman explained. “I really am. I think they potentially could be a real contender as we move through the rest of the season, through the season and then into the postseason. Obviously, a big part of it is, is have they fixed the defensive problems from a year ago? And from what I can tell, I believe they have. I think they made a really good hire in Christian Parker. Time will tell.”
Tyler Smith Headed To Injured Reserve
Smith was the 24th overall pick in 2022 out of Tulsa and grew up in Fort Worth. He has started all 63 games he has played, made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons and was second-team All-Pro in 2023. He signed a four-year, $96 million extension last September that included $81.2 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Dallas has also reshuffled the outside of the line. Broderick Jones arrived in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 29 and has competed with Terence Steele, a four-year starter, at right tackle.
Prescott was sacked 31 times last season and pressured on 21.6% of his dropbacks. Over 10 seasons he has thrown for 35,989 yards with 243 touchdowns and 92 interceptions in 139 games. Dallas opens the regular season Sunday, Sept. 13, at the New York Giants. Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
