Add Ron Leary to the list of offensive linemen that are out with injuries for the Dallas Cowboys. Leary was expected to start at left guard week one before this latest knee injury.
Leary joins Nate Livings, Kevin Kowalski, Ryan Cook and Ray Dominguez as injured offensive linemen. This has exposed Dallas’ lack of depth along the offensive line and highlights the team’s need for some help at the guard position.
Currently the starting guards would be David Arkin on the left side and Mackenzy Bernadeau on the right. Dallas has worked rookie center Travis Frederick at guard some and there is speculation that he could start at guard allowing Phil Costa to move back into the starting center position.
While that would help the guard position, it could hinder Frederick’s development as a center which is where the Dallas organization sees him playing in the long term. He is such a talented center that it would be a shame to see him having to move positions just because of injuries.
Thankfully, Dallas has been busy trying to sign a veteran guard to come step into a starting role. They started trying to sign Brandon Moore, who opted to move into retirement. Now the team has offered a contract to pro bowl guard Brian Waters who hasn’t played in over a year.
Dallas really needs Waters. He may not join the team until they return to Arlington, but the Cowboys will probably take Waters at whatever time they can. They can make it through preseason with Arkin and Bernadeau at guard, but with no timetable on Leary’s injury, Dallas needs to add some depth.
If Waters does sign with Dallas, they would be gaining a veteran lineman that could help bring added stability to the offensive line. Also the move would ensure that Frederick stays in his current spot at starting center which is where the rookie is truly thriving.
Even before all the injuries at the guard position, depth and talent were slightly thin at that position, making this a move that Dallas fans really hope will pan out. Waters is a player that the Cowboys really need to bring in to add some depth and talent along the offensive line.
