Cowboys Get Bad News With Key Injury to Open Camp

Of the many concerns the Dallas Cowboys have coming into the 2025 season, the depth along the offensive line must rank among the most significant. Of course, even simply the talent level along the line is a worry, as the starters figure to be long on athleticism but lacking in experience and know-how. Two second-year guys, center Cooper Beebe and tackle Tyler Guyton, will be in key roles, and first-round pick Tyler Booker will be slotted in at right guard.

That’s three players with five total years of experience under their belts. Two of the most important players on the roster, then, are the veteran linemen, Terence Steele and Tyler Smith.

And it’s never a good thing when a lineman comes into training camp and, in the first week, comes away with a high ankle sprain. Yet that’s just what happened with Steele this week.

Terence Steele Suffers Ankle Injury

The Cowboys saw Steele sit out of practice on Thursday, and the team did not practice on Friday. According to the Dallas Morning News, “Cowboys starting right tackle Terence Steele has a mild right ankle sprain and is being listed as day to day, a person with knowledge of the injury told The Dallas Morning News.”

So while Steele could be back in short order, it is an injury worth monitoring, because, for one thing, ankle injuries are especially tough on lineman. For another thing, the Cowboys do not have a great Plan B if Steele were to be injured at all during the season.

The Cowboys have yet to work out exactly how their offensive line rotation will go, but the current player listed as Steele’s backup is another rookie, sixth-round pick Ajani Cornelius. There is some question as to whether Cornelius will be on the 53-man roster at all when camp breaks.

Cowboys Need Steele to Lead

It is a big season for Steele, who showed some improvement in 2024 after he struggled badly in 2023 as he came off an ACL and MCL injury suffered late in the 2022 season. Steele was back to being a league-average lineman, rating No. 43 out of 81 as a guard on the Pro Football Focus grades chart.

That is up from 2023, when he was 69th out of 81 linemen. Now, with Tyler Smith two seasons removed from his departure and Zack Martin retiring, there is pressure on Steele to be a veteran leader.

Depth Lacking on Cowboys OL

It would be a steep drop from Steele, at his best, to Cornelius, and it is possible another Cowboys lineman–TJ Bass is always the top candidate–would be the first reserve to become a starter in case of injury.

NFL.com rated Cornelius an average backup or a special teamer in its scouting report this year.

“Cornelius lacks standout flashes on tape. He has been a full-time right tackle but lacks protection talent to stay outside as a pro. … He can cover up defenders with size but is frequently out-leveraged at the point of attack. His average body control and slide quickness should be mitigated in smaller spaces but those issues will still be concerning against explosive interior rushers.

“The traits should make him a Day 3 target, but his ceiling might be as a backup.”