FRISCO, Texas — Cowboys teammates were stopped in their tracks Wednesday evening when left tackle Tyron Smith gave what the team very cautiously believes was a scare.
Smith appeared to take a misstep while running to deliver a second-level block on linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. He injured his left knee, falling to the ground and lying there about a minute during a practice inside Ford Center at The Star. A visibly frustrated Smith walked off the field under his own power, a small convoy beside him that included head athletic trainer Jim Maurer.
Smith will undergo an MRI but there is initial belief he avoided anything serious, a person familiar with the situation said.
On Aug. 1, Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse made a quick return following a hyperextended knee. There is hope Smith’s situation could be similar, but the MRI ultimately will clarify.
Smith later was seen walking out of the facility, again under his own power.
“I was in pass protect, and all the sudden, I see him on the ground,” left guard Connor McGovern said. “I didn’t even care up where the ball was downfield. I instantly just went to him. You saw literally everyone on the offense, even defensive guys, running over there. When a guy like that goes down — it doesn’t even matter who it is, this team is so close. Everyone is trying to get over there and see if they’re all right and get them back up.”
McGovern met with Smith after practice in the locker room.
Their exchange was brief.
“He gave me a nice, reassuring grunt like he usually does,” McGovern said. “That’s one thing, playing next to him for so long, I can decipher his grunts. ‘I think he’s all right.’ ”
