The Dallas Cowboys were dealt a tough blow this offseason when 11-year NFL veteran and nine-time All-Pro Zack Martin announced his retirement, leaving a significant void at guard.
In response, the team signed and drafted players to address the position, including using a first-round pick. Unfortunately, the player who had been emerging as the frontrunner for the starting job has suffered a brutal injury.
Cowboys Suffer Major Blow as Free-Agent Guard Goes Down with Injury
Following Martin’s retirement, the Cowboys used their No. 12 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Alabama’s Tyler Booker, who was widely projected to be the team’s starter heading into training camp.
However, Dallas also strengthened its position in free agency by signing Rob Jones. Jones joined the Dolphins in 2021 as an undrafted rookie free agent and started all 17 games for them in the 2024-2025 season, spending four seasons with the team.
With the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 @NFLDraft, the @dallascowboys select Tyler Booker. @NewEraCap
📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/AYhyU1TQVR— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2025
Much to everyone’s surprise, Jones had been outperforming Booker in training camp, earning most of the first-team reps. However, the offensive lineman suffered a broken bone in his neck during Sunday’s training camp practice, which will sideline him for two to three months.
Sources: Cowboys guard Rob Jones, who has been working with the starting unit during the early part of training camp, broke a bone in his neck during Sunday’s practice and now is expected to miss 2-3 months, per @toddarcher and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2025
Jones beating out Booker was already a bad sign for the rookie first-round pick, but now, with Jones sidelined, the former Alabama star will need to step up in a big way.
Sounds like cheap free agent pickup Rob Jones was beating out first-round pick Tyler Booker – bad early sign for Booker – until Jones broke a bone in his neck Sunday and will be gone, Cowboys say, for 2-3 months.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) July 28, 2025
It is not uncommon for rookies, especially offensive linemen, to struggle adjusting to the NFL. Still, Booker’s development will have to accelerate quickly for Dallas to have a strong offensive line in the 2025-2026 season.
Booker was dominant at Alabama, allowing no sacks and giving up just seven hurries and nine pressures over 715 snaps during his final year with the Crimson Tide in 2024. He earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2023 and first-team honors in 2024.
That level of success in college football’s best conference should help him transition to the NFL, but his early struggles with Dallas must be addressed before the season starts.
Jones’ injury is not season-ending, but it will keep him out at least until October, meaning Booker will need to step up early for the Cowboys.
