Injuries put Cowboys’ offensive line in rare state of flux
ARLINGTON, Texas — Zack Martin has spent plenty of time in practice through the years at positions other than right guard, where he’s been a starter since the Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the first round in 2014.
The closest the four-time All-Pro has come to thinking he might actually switch in the middle of a game came last week, when Martin ended up moving to tackle for the first time since his Notre Dame days in the second half against Seattle.
The surprising retirement of center Travis Frederick in the offseason, followed by injuries to the top three tackles, have the Dallas offensive line in flux as much as Martin has seen from the once-steady group in his seven seasons.
“It’s not going to be the 22 guys starting at the beginning of the year that are going to take every snap,” said Martin, the anchor of a line that for years was considered among the league’s best. “I think these coaches do a great job of emphasizing that, and I think guys are preparing the right way.”
The Cowboys could get closer to their projected starting five up front Sunday at home against Cleveland. Coach Mike McCarthy said seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith is on track to return after missing two games with a neck issue.
Martin said the plan is for him to return to right guard, so if Smith is back, the Cowboys have two choices at right tackle in a pair of young undrafted players with five starts between them this season: Brandon Knight and Terence Steele.
Steele, who has started all three games as a rookie, didn’t play in the second half of a 38-31 loss to the Seahawks because he had the flu. Executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones said Steele’s illness wasn’t related to COVID-19. The rookie’s departure prompted the shuffling. Along with Martin’s move to right tackle, center Joe Looney slid over to right guard. Rookie Tyler Biadasz filled in for Looney. Thirdyear man Connor Williams is the left guard.
La’el Collins, the projected starter at right tackle, has been out since the start of training camp with a hip issue. The Cowboys don’t sound optimistic about him returning soon. Backup tackle Cameron Erving injured a knee in the opener against the Los Angeles Rams. “It’s just a lot of moving parts,” McCarthy said. “Multiple players playing multiple positions. You do get in challenges like we’re in, and I think our guys have handled it very well.”