Dallas Cowboys guard Robert Jones suffered a broken bone in his neck and is expected to be sidelined for two to three months, a league source told Newsposter on Monday. Jones, who signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys in March after starting 17 games last season with the Miami Dolphins, was injured during Sunday’s practice while working with the Cowboys’ starters in training camp.
The Cowboys began their training camp on July 21 at Staybridge Suites in Oxnard, California. With Jones sidelined, the team will rely on left guard Tyler Smith, who started 17 games last season, and rookie Tyler Booker, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, who had been competing with Jones for starting time at right guard. The Cowboys’ backup interior linemen include T.J. Bass, Brock Hoffman, Saahdiq Charles, and Nate Thomas. Jones, an undrafted free agent signed by the Dolphins in 2021, has appeared in 49 games with 30 starts over four seasons. In 2024, Pro Football Focus ranked him 37th among guards with significant playing time. The Cowboys are set to face the Los Angeles Rams in their preseason opener on August 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.