Cowboys rookie first-rounder Mazi Smith to make debut versus Jaguars after injury scare

Ahead of the Dallas Cowboys‘ preseason opener versus the Jaguars on Saturday, rookie first-rounder Mazi Smith revealed he will play after going through a brief injury scare earlier this week.

Smith, a former Michigan Wolverine, has been dealing with tendinitis in camp. He missed practice on Tuesday for an MRI to get a more extensive look at his knee. However, he made it back for Wednesday to participate in a light walk-through workout.

On the team’s first depth chart for the preseason, Smith is on the second string behind defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.

The Cowboys also had some medical concerns with Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz this week. He left practice on Tuesday with an apparent ankle injury. Again, an MRI revealed no significant damage.

Meanwhile, running back Tony Pollard rejoined the team on Wednesday after he briefly returned home for the birth of his second daughter.

The Cowboys head back to Arlington, Texas for this Saturday’s preseason opener against Jacksonville at AT&T Stadium at 5 p.m. ET.

Players likely to sit out of the game on Saturday include G Zack Martin (contract holdout), DE Dorance Armstrong (hamstring), CB Jourdan Lewis (foot), S Donovan Wilson (calf), and S Israel Mukuamu (hamstring).

Cowboys OL carted off with minor knee injury

The Cowboys have had several minor injuries impact them so far in training camp and on Thursday, they added another name to the list. Offensive lineman Chuma Edoga appeared to go down with a knee injury after the first drills of practice. After going down, the former Falcons guard took a cart to the locker room for further evaluation.

According to reports, Edoga suffered a hyperextension of his right knee, and the team believes he avoided a major injury.

Unfortunately for Dallas, the offensive lineman has been a key depth piece so far through camp. Capable of playing both guard and tackle, Edoga is currently No. 2 at left tackle behind Tyron Smith on the first depth chart of the season.

Edoga was in and out of the lineup for New York over the course of his first three years, appearing in 23 games during that span.

After the Jets released him, the Atlanta Falcons picked him up. He appeared in two games for the team in 2022. Edoga played left guard for Atlanta before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Edoga is a former third-round pick out of USC. The New York Jets snagged him in the 2019 NFL Draft.