Tyler Smith set for thumb surgery, four-to-six-week absence

Injured reserve will sideline him through Week 4

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 81 min read

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What happened: A lingering left-thumb ligament injury resisted efforts to manage it through camp. His injured-reserve designation will keep him out for at least the opening four games.

Why it matters: The lineup loses an All-Pro left guard before the season opener. His replacement has 10 career starts, including five last season.

By the numbers: Smith played 16 games in each of the past two seasons after appearing in 14 in 2023. He has never played fewer than 14 games in a season.

What to watch: Week 5 is the earliest possible return, pending his recovery after surgery.

Sources

@JamesPalmerTV 2026-09-08T23:23:33.597115+00:00

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