​Dallas Cowboys guard Tyler Smith (73) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington. (Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer)
FRISCO — To play or not to play: that was the question for Cowboys left guard Tyler Smith when he suffered a torn ligament in his thumb this offseason. It wasn’t an easy one, either. “It was extremely difficult,” Smith said. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve gone through.”Smith met with the media for his first in-depth interview since his decision to have surgery on his left thumb’s torn UCL. He returned to practice for the first time Monday since the surgery and could play this Thursday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith has been mostly healthy during his NFL career. He’s played and started in 66 of a possible 71 games during his career. This, however, was the longest stretch he’s been absent. Smith said it’s been extremely frustrating for him.“I’ve gone through things, but nothing quite like this,” he said. “But I think it’s good to go through.”It was difficult because Smith had the option to keep playing, until he couldn’t. Smith said he first felt the ramifications of the torn thumb ligament during the team’s joint practice against the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 18. He tried to play through it, but he said he made it worse by doing so. “I couldn’t grab, I couldn’t punch. … I just couldn’t do my job as an o-lineman,” Smith said. “We hand fight. We see somebody every play. It’s not like I’m in space or I’m dropping back, or I’m tackling somebody. I have to block and I have to manhandle somebody every play. So that was my biggest issues. If I could do all those things with no issues, then we don’t have a problem.”But Smith did. The decision may have been hard, but it was obvious by the time they decided to pursue surgery. He had the surgery on Sept. 8. “There is a point. I feel like, as football players, we’re all tough,” Smith said. “Even me, myself. I feel like I’m the toughest dude in the world. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to be realistic with yourself. You’ve got to do not only what is the best for you, but what’s best for the team. I’d advise any young athlete or any guy playing at a high level to do the same. You’ve only got one career. Ultimately, there are going to be millions of dudes who play in the NFL after me or whatever the case may be. Ultimately this is my one career, and I have to make the best choice for my teammates and myself at the end of the day.”If it’s Thursday or next week, Smith will return to an offense that’s been playing well. The Cowboys’ offense is tied for second in points per game. He’ll also play next to a left tackle who’s playing well. Smith said he’s not surprised by the four-game success of Tyler Guyton based on the work that Guyton’s put in. Adding a healthy version of Smith to the lineup