Jerry Jones says Tyler Smith, Brandin Cooks 'close' ahead of Week 3 vs Cardinals

The Cowboys could return two key figures to the lineup for Week 3’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones shared the latest on starting left guard Tyler Smith and wide receiver Brandin Cooks on Tuesday during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan.

Jones told the show hosts that Smith and Cooks are both “close.” It’s good news, however, that was also the word used to describe safety Donovan Wilson last week before he ended up inactive for the Jets game.

Cooks suffered an MCL sprain after Week 1 and didn’t practice with the team leading up to the home opener.

Smith hasn’t played yet this season after straining his hamstring before the Giants game. He’s been working with the rehab group and told reporters toward the end of last week that he has begun sprinting again. Playing in his spot has been Chuma Edoga and T.J. Bass.

As for injured right guard Zack Martin, Jones doesn’t expect him to miss the Sunday afternoon matchup against Arizona.

Zack Martin updates ankle injury: ‘Feel good’

The Cowboys had very few negatives to take away from their 30-10 win over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon but the injury to Zack Martin was one of them. The 2022 All-Pro right guard exited the game in the fourth quarter after suffering an ankle injury.

His injury came after the Cowboys also lost backup left guard Chuma Edoga to a shoulder injury at halftime.

Luckily for Dallas, Martin insisted post-game that his injury was not serious, even sharing that he would have continued playing if the score deemed it necessary.

“I feel good,” Martin provided as an update, via Jon Machota, on Monday morning. “Just got rolled up a little bit. Just being smart there at the end of the game. But I feel good.”

If the starting right guard pops up on the Cowboys’ injury report to start the week it wouldn’t be a surprise given his veteran status. Last week, he practiced in a limited fashion with a groin injury but was good to go by game time.

Martin is coming off of an offseason holdout that saw him miss most of training camp in Oxnard. He argued that he wasn’t properly compensated with his six-year deal for $84 million, which he signed in 2018. Dallas wound up caving before the end of camp, increasing the All-Pro’s salary by $8 million over two years.