FRISCO, Texas — Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith will require surgery and an extensive absence after tearing a hamstring tendon near his left knee Wednesday during the team’s final training-camp practice, a person with knowledge of the diagnosis said, dealing a significant blow to an offensive line whose tackle depth already was considered a roster stress point.
Further testing revealed Smith suffered an avulsion fracture in his left knee related to the hamstring tear, the person said. According to the Mayo Clinic, an avulsion fracture occurs when a small chunk of bone attached to a tendon or ligament gets pulled away from the main part of the bone.
Smith will undergo surgery on Friday, another person familiar with the injury said. The team will have a better idea on a timetable for return after the surgery, but Dallas is proceeding on the assumption that Smith will be able to return late in the season.
