Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazie Smith will not play in the team’s second preseason game on Saturday in Las Vegas. The team said in a statement that Smith was receiving treatment after suffering an allergic reaction during training camp on Friday.
The Cowboys are scheduled to play the Raiders at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday. Smith will be absent as Dallas continues its preseason scrimmages after losing 13-12 to the Los Angeles Rams in its first exhibition match last week.
The Cowboys selected Smith with the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan. Prior to the draft, Smith was projected to be a late first round pick or a high second round selection.
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones speaks to the media before the NFL preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 11, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Jordan Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As a rookie, he played in all 17 games, starting three of them, but recorded less than one tackle per game, 13 overall on the season, one sack, three tackles for loss and just three quarterback hits. He then played just four snaps in the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers.
The Cowboys defense will be led by Mike Zimmer for the first time since the 2006 season, and Smith is expected to move into a traditional nose tackle role. Smith recorded three tackles in 20 appearances in last week’s preseason opener against Los Angeles, drawing praise from the coaching staff.
Smith is hoping to recover from the allergic reaction and return to the field in time for the team’s third and final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Smith’s absence could open up playing time for veteran defensive tackle Albert Huggins, who, at 305 pounds, was recently reprimanded and berated by head coach Mike McCarthy for knocking a Rams intern to the ground during a joint practice earlier this week.
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Dak Prescott watch a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams during training camp on Aug. 8, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Kevorkh Djansezian/Getty Images)
“We took him out of practice when it happened,” McCarthy told reporters on Thursday. “To be honest with you, when I saw the video a few hours after practice, I called Sean again and his response was, ‘You’d be proud to hear the way the coaches responded.’ I just want to make sure that behavior is not tolerated. Emotional punishment in the moment. That’s not what we’re about and he clearly understands that.”
Meanwhile, star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is not yet on the team’s active roster as he is pending a new contract. Lamb’s absence from camp has caused a public rift between him and owner Jerry Jones as his future with the team remains unclear at this time.
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