During his first five seasons in the NFL, Tyrone Smith played in every game. In fact, he was the team's captain and earned All-City League honors as a senior. Smith also contributed on special teams. In 2010, Smith was named to the Morris Trophy, a league award for the best offensive and defensive linemen on the West Coast.

After signing an eight-year, $97.6 million contract with the Cowboys in 2011, Smith was expected to be an important part of the defensive line rotation. His contract included a $10 million signing bonus and an average annual salary of $12,200,000. In addition, Smith was guaranteed $22,118,013.

Smith was expected to play a significant role this season, and he did, but he will miss at least 12 games due to a knee sprain that he suffered in the regular season finale. The Cowboys have been optimistic that Smith will be able to return, but his return will probably be a couple weeks after the team's season is over.

He will be able to practice with the team in about a month, but it will be a while before he is back in game action. Smith has missed three games in each of the last two seasons due to injuries to the lower body. He has been a part of the special teams rotation in each of his first two seasons, and he has made two stops against Eastern Michigan and Ohio State.

Smith was injured in August, and the Cowboys placed him on injured reserve. After renegotiated rules were put in place, Smith technically is allowed to return to the field for Week 5. Smith's recovery is expected to take a couple more weeks.

When Smith is fully healthy, he will have a chance to play a bigger role on the defensive line. He is also expected to contribute on special teams, and he should earn a spot in the defensive line rotation in the future. If he can recover from his knee injury and play a significant role in 2022, the Cowboys could use his extra muscle.

The Cowboys have a serious hole on the defensive line, and Smith is the best person to fill that position. Tyler Smith has started all six games for the Cowboys, and he is expected to be the team's starting left tackle in Week 1. While he has been inconsistent, he has played every single snap for the Cowboys. In the past, Smith has played on the other side of the ball, as he started in the tight end position. In this position, Smith has recorded two solo hits, one kickoff return, and one pass breakup. He has also made one highlight run, but that was on an option play.

If Tyrone Smith can recover from his knee sprain and play in 2022, he will be a very important part of the Dallas Cowboys' defensive line rotation. His ability to adjust to different situations should help him earn a bigger role in the future.