Mike McCarthy says Zack Martin is ahead of Tyron Smith for Dolphins matchup
The Dallas Cowboys are at risk of facing the Miami Dolphins on Sunday without two starting offensive linemen. Right guard Zack Martin and left tackle Tyron Smith are both nursing injuries from the Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Martin suffered a bruised quad after just a few snaps on Sunday while Smith played the full game but the tackle now has a back injury.
According to head coach Mike McCarthy, of the two injured players, Martin is the one more likely to play on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. However, neither practiced on Thursday and both will probably be questionable heading into the weekend.
“I would say Zack’s ahead of Tyron right now,” McCarthy said on 105.3 The Fan, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.
After Martin’s injury on Sunday, rookie T.J. Bass filled in at right guard. He played well despite limited playing time so far this season. If the veteran cannot play against the Dolphins, the Cowboys will call on Bass to step up again.
As for Tyron Smith’s spot at left tackle, former free agent Chuma Edoga is ready to step in. Edoga has been a critical depth piece for Dallas already this season, filling in for Tyler Smith at the start of the year when a rash of injuries broke out.
Johnathan Hankins likely out for Dallas in Week 16
After missing Sunday’s loss to the Bills, in which the Cowboys gave up 266 rushing yards, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is once again questionable. Dealing with a high-ankle sprain, Hankins is “hard-pressed” to play against the Dolphins this week, according to Mike McCarthy. It’s the same prognosis the head coach gave last week before Hankins wound up sitting out.
So far this season, Hankins, now in year 11, has 26 tackles with three sacks. The last time he had three sacks in a single season was in 2016 for the Giants.
Hankins joined Dallas last October in a trade with Las Vegas that sent a Cowboys’ 2023 sixth-round pick to the Raiders, and a 2024 seventh-round pick back to Dallas. The veteran out of Ohio State came in to bolster the Cowboys’ already stout defensive line group.
He played in several games, then tore a pectoral muscle, but made his return in time for the playoffs. He finished the year with five postseason tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss, as well as 10 tackles in five regular season games. After the end of the playoff run, Dallas signed the tackle to a new one-year deal for $1.5 million.