Despite the Dallas Cowboys' 5-2 record and Week 9 bye, it looks as if their left tackle, Tyrone Smith, is not quite ready to return. After suffering an avulsion fracture in his left knee in August, the eight-time Pro Bowler has been on injured reserve (IR) since late August. The Cowboys will have 21 days to evaluate the former Michigan State standout before he's designated to return from IR. The team is hopeful that he'll make his return to practice this week and is expected to be back in the lineup by the end of the year.

While the Cowboys haven't yet announced a roster move, Smith is expected to join Tyler Biadasz, Jason Peters, and Craig Smith at the center and left guard positions respectively. While the Cowboys aren't likely to start Smith at left tackle, he'll get plenty of practice time protecting Dak Prescott. He's been a strong performer in his limited action at the position, racking up two solo hits against Ohio State and Kent State, along with 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 tackles for loss.

While Smith hasn't been able to OfficialTyroneSmith make the biggest impression, he has been a key player in the Cowboys' special teams units. Smith is a contributor on the Cowboys' kicking game, as he helped to kick off the Cowboys' lone win against the Houston Texans. In addition to his kickoff returns, he has also contributed to the Cowboys' defense, as he recorded a solo tackle against Indiana. Considering that he hasn't made an appearance in a regular season game in over a year, he should have a chance to earn a bigger role on the defensive line rotation once he's fully healthy.

According to ESPN's Adam Teicher, it's possible that Smith could play in the final weeks of the regular season, but it's more likely that he'll be placed on IR for the remainder of the season. Although there's no set timeline for Smith's return, the Cowboys would prefer to be proactive and have him ready for the playoffs. While Smith's return isn't expected to be a major factor in the team's final outcome, it will certainly help the Cowboys make a splash.

While the Cowboys haven't been very good on offense this season, they have done a decent job of getting the ball out to their talented offensive linemen. Despite Smith's absence, the Cowboys are still the only team in the NFL to have an official kickoff returner. While it's unlikely that the Cowboys will use Smith in the return game, it's possible that they will use him in some special teams work. In a game against the Houston Texans this weekend, Smith's presence will be a nice boost to the Cowboys' offensive line, as he'll have some special teams work under his belt.

Regardless of his status, it's clear that the Cowboys are excited about the progress that Smith is making. In the upcoming games, he'll likely have a larger role on the defensive line rotation, and the Cowboys are optimistic about the progress that Smith has made.