The Dallas Cowboys have made two significant roster moves to address the offensive line following the injury of Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith. On Wednesday, the team placed Smith on the injured reserve list due to a thumb injury that requires surgery, sidelining him for an estimated 4 to 6 weeks.
In response, the Cowboys promoted veteran interior lineman Nick Leverett from their practice squad to the active roster. While Leverett will now be part of the game-day roster, he is not expected to step into the starting role immediately. Instead, T.J. Bass is anticipated to take over as the left guard, bringing with him 10 career starts and familiarity with the Cowboys' offensive system.
Leverett, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Rice University in 2020, spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he started 10 games and appeared in 16 during his tenure. He later played for both the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals in 2024, where he worked under Cowboys offensive coordinator Clayton Adams.
After being released during the final roster cuts this year, he was signed to the practice squad before his recent promotion.
To fill the vacancy left by Leverett's promotion, the Cowboys have also signed 11-year veteran Laken Tomlinson to their practice squad. Tomlinson, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2015, has a wealth of experience, having started 162 games throughout his career, including seven last season with the Houston Texans. He did not participate in any training camps this year.
