Stock Down: The Offensive Line

(11). Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, La’el Collins, Cameron Fleming, Connor McGovern, Joe Looney, Xavier Su’a-Filo, Adam Redmond, Brandon Knight

Let me be clear: the Dallas Cowboys still boast one of the best offensive lines in football. Getting Travis Frederick back and healthy really amplifies this sentiment.

However, injuries to multiple starters have this unit trending down. Superstars Zack Martin and Tyron Smith are both dealing with bad backs, although reports indicate they will most likely not miss regular season action. La’el Collins is hampered down as well with a groin injury, but akin to 77 and 70, it is said to be minor.

While we certainly have the right to celebrate the lack-of severity, Cowboys fans should be a tad worrisome here. Tyron Smith’s back injury seems to have lasted 5 years now, and as he continues to age, symptoms are bound to eventually get worse. Zack Martin and La’el Collins should be fine for the long-term, but it is never ideal for any lineman to play through a nagging ailment.

These men play the most physical spots in football, where forcible contact is expected each play. Having multiple cogs banged up to begin a long campaign can smell doom if the Cowboys are unlucky and take further bites from the injury bug.

That said, Dallas put emphasis on depth at the offensive line this year. Cam Fleming, Joe Looney, and Xavier Su’a-Filo have all been carried over from the previous season to ensure quality reserves. Training Camp bodies Adam Redmond and Brandon Knight have been signed to further bolster the team’s barrel.

How many snaps each reserve will see largely depends on the health of the starting unit, and although the Dallas Cowboys look equipped to absorb a few blows, there’s too much skepticism surrounding the offensive line for it to be trending up.