By David Helman
FOX Sports activities Dallas Cowboys Author
Assistance is on the best way, Dak Prescott.
It won't be a picture-perfect state of affairs, however the Cowboys have agreed to phrases on a deal that may deliver perennial Professional Bowler Jason Peters onto their apply squad on the outset of Week 1 this 2022 NFL season.
That is an odd thought — Peters, a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Staff, signing on to the apply squad. However it's an indicator of the place issues stand for the veteran. Peters enters this season at 40 years outdated, and he wasn't with a workforce for the offseason program or for coaching camp.
Beginning on the apply squad will enable the veteran to step by step ramp himself up and transfer to the energetic roster when prepared. The NFL has amended its practice-squad guidelines to permit as much as six veteran gamers, and groups are allowed to raise a participant as much as thrice in a season. The apparent query is whether or not that leaves Peters sufficient time to be prepared for the season opener, because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers arrive at AT&T Stadium in simply six days.
The doubtless reply to that query is "in all probability not." Once more, six days is not a ton of time to acclimate after lacking the grind of coaching camp. Relatively than threat an harm to Peters by dashing him into the motion, it looks like a very good guess the Cowboys will transfer ahead with their plan to begin rookie deal with Tyler Smith, who has been the doubtless man for the job since Tyron Smith first injured his knee two weeks in the past.
Smith performed left deal with throughout his faculty profession at Tulsa, and the Cowboys drafted him with the concept of being their way forward for that place. Final week, the rookie famous that shifting again to deal with did not really feel like a giant transition after he spent his whole coaching camp taking part in left guard. "I've at all times been a left-sided participant and so it positively has helped with the transition as of late, simply realizing that not too many issues are altering," Smith stated. "I am nonetheless producing energy from the identical areas. It is only a totally different footwork, a little bit little bit of a special stance, simply issues that you have to tighten up."
Probably the most attention-grabbing query is in the long run. Peters will ultimately be able to play, and what occurs then? The nine-time Professional Bowler began 15 video games for Chicago final 12 months and dealt with himself effectively. It is not a stretch to assume he is a greater short-term possibility than a rookie can be.
And if he's, does it make sense to maneuver Smith again to protect? Or is that job greatest left to Connor McGovern, permitting Smith to settle in at deal with?
Is there a world the place Smith hits the bottom operating at left deal with, rendering Peters a succesful backup? The Cowboys would not complain if that had been the case. Earlier than Monday, their major depth on the place got here from two younger gamers, Matt Waletzko and Josh Ball, who've but to play a daily season recreation.
These are powerful inquiries to reply in the meanwhile, earlier than Peters has even hit the apply subject in his new uniform. On the very least, the addition offers the Cowboys choices for the way they need to transfer ahead at deal with. That wasn't even a dialog they may have previous to Monday — and in the end, that is the rationale Jason Peters is right here.
David Helman covers the Dallas Cowboys for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent 9 seasons overlaying the Cowboys for the workforce’s official web site. In 2018, he received a regional Emmy for his position in producing "Dak Prescott: A Household Reunion" concerning the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Comply with him on Twitter @davidhelman_.
