Jason Peters ready to coach up Tyler Smith, here for whatever Cowboys need
On Monday, the Dallas Cowboys signed longtime veteran offensive tackle Jason Peters to the practice squad. After losing LT Tyron Smith to an injury in the preseason, the Cowboys finally looked elsewhere for help. The reality is they should’ve looked sooner. They knew Smith had durability issues and there were already question marks at swing tackle.
Instead, they waited until the 11th hour. Now, they are bringing in a player who has an incredibly successful career but is also a 40-year-old who has not participated in a training camp this offseason. Peters spent last year with the Chicago Bears but wasn’t on a team during camps, hence why Dallas assigned him to the practice squad.
Even if the Cowboys wanted Peters to start at left tackle for Week 1, he simply isn’t ready. The veteran told reporters that it will take at least a couple of weeks to get back into football shape, and this also helps give the franchise some roster flexibility.
So, is he there to start or provide depth? The nine-time Pro Bowler is flexible:
"“Whatever they ask me. If [Tyler] Smith gets in there and starts rolling and they want to keep him. I am just going to help him. I ain’t no guy who is going to feel some way if I don’t start.”"
Cowboys OT Jason Peters on if he was added for depth or to start: “It doesn’t matter. Whatever they ask me. If (Tyler) Smith get in there and start rolling and they want to keep him, I’m just going to help him. … If they ask me to start I’m going to get in there and go to work.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 6, 2022
Jason Peters is not ready to play but is already helping Cowboys rookie Tyler Smith get better
Until he can get on the field himself, Peters is already putting in work for the Cowboys. Not as a starter, but almost as a coach of sorts. The OT who played in 218 of 228 games in his career is already giving rookie Tyler Smith pointers.
Keep in mind that the 21-year-old out of Tulsa was three years old when Peters was drafted in 2004.
9x Pro Bowl OT Jason Peters waited no time to mentor Cowboys rookie Tyler Smith.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) September 5, 2022
"Make sure you’re really accurate & precise with your hands," Tyler shared of his advice. "Getting out of your stance, being active, dropping your hips, squeezing your arms to make your core tight."
If Peters can’t be on the field yet, he’s going to help the people who can. He’s already been sharing his best tips and tricks with the rookie:
"“He taught me a little bit about hand tricks, how he operates with his outside hand… He also talked about getting out of your stance quick and getting to your spot being one of the most important parts of blocking because from that point on it’s just a chess match between you and the defender. Even though it seems small, that stuff can take you a long way.”"
Some Cowboys fans are upset that the front office waited to address the offensive line issues for so long. There’s no denying that’s true. However, people should be happy about Peters being in the building. He’s a durable player with Super Bowl experience, and if nothing else, he can be the veteran presence Tyler Smith need while Tyron Smith is out.
