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Dallas Cowboys OT Tyron Smith out indefinitely after hamstring tear
- Smith’s left hamstring tore and came off the bone during Wednesday's practice, according to ESPN, and he is unlikely to return before December.
- Health has always been a concern for Smith, who has not played a full season since 2015. He missed 14 games in 2020 due to a neck injury and missed six games last season due to COVID and an ankle injury.
- He still proved to be one of the best at his position in the league when on the field, earning a 90.0-plus overall PFF grade last season for the first time since 2015. He finished with PFF grades of at least 87.0 as both a run blocker and a pass protector.
- Losing Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowler, creates a massive hole on an offensive line that was already dealing with questions with the season set to kickoff in under three weeks.
- The Cowboys used the 24th overall pick in April’s draft on Tulsa offensive tackle Tyler Smith, but he’s been playing at left guard during training camp and the first two preseason games. Josh Ball, who was selected in the fourth round last year, could also be an internal option as he’s taken left tackle reps throughout camp.
- Eric Fisher and Jason Peters are among the offensive tackles available on the free agent market while New England Patriots offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn has been a name floated on the trade market.
Free agent center JC Tretter announces retirement
- Tretter has been available since March when the Browns released him, but he decides to retire after not receiving interest on the free agent market, he told Alex Prewitt of SI.com.
- Tretter, who is also the NFLPA President, said he believes his work for the players association could be a reason behind not getting much interest.
- “There are teams right now that I would say are desperate for a center based off how camp’s going,” Tretter told SI.com. “Still no calls.”
- A 2013 Green Bay Packers fourth-round pick, Tretter started 10 of the 31 games with the team. He made a name for himself as one of the top centers in the league after signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2017, where he started 80 games over his five years with the team. His 5,298 regular-season snaps played at center during that span fall behind only Jason Kelce and Ryan Jensen, and no center earned a higher grade in pass protection (90.6) over that stretch.
- Tretter will remain NFLPA President and he says he is looking forward to “doubling down” on his union work now that his playing days are over.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers release WR Cyril Grayson
- Grayson got some playing time for the Bucs last season, recording 212 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a game-winner against the New York Jets. He earned a 72.5 PFF grade.
- Grayson’s release likely has less to do with his ability but rather because of Tampa’s stacked receiver room.
- Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage, Julio Jones, Jaelon Darden, Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson and Breshad Perriman are all on the roster.
Dallas Cowboys expect WR Michael Gallup to be ready within first four weeks of season
- Gallup told reporters before the season that he would not be ready for Week 1 of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL.
- But owner Jerry Jones hinted to reporters that Gallup will be on the 53-man roster when the season starts and will avoid the PUP list, which would’ve sidelined him for the first four weeks of the season.
- In nine games last year, Gallup caught 35 passes for 445 yards and two touchdowns. He earned a 73.4 PFF grade. His most productive statistical season came in 2019 when he caught 66 passes for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns.
- Dallas re-signed him to a five-year, $62.5 million deal this offseason.