Cowboys’ left tackle Tyron Smith to have season-ending neck surgery

The New York Giants might well have caught a massive break in their Sunday afternoon game against the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy announced Friday that All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith‘s season is over.

The loss of Smith follows the loss of right tackle La’El Collins to a hip injury, making Brandon Knight and Terence Steele the Cowboy’s starting bookends at left and right tackle, respectively.

The interior of their offensive line remains stout, but they could decide to move All-Pro guard Zack Martin to right tackle to help solidify one edge.

The loss of Smith is doubtless a blow to the Dallas offense, which as played at a historic pace over the last three weeks. The play of quarterback Dak Prescott (who is on pace to shatter the record for passing yards) as well as skill position players like Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dalton Schultz, has made the Cowboys threats to win each of their games.

They might not be able to sustain their torrid offensive pace with the latest blow to their offensive line. That could be good news for a Giants’ team that has struggled to put points on the board. It could also change the balance in an anemic NFC East.