FRISCO, Texas -- The Cowboys have placed left guard La'el Collins on injured reserve following surgery for ligament damage to his right big toe.
Collins will be eligible to return after eight weeks, but coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday it was too early to tell whether Collins could do that. Dallas has another candidate for return in rookie defensive end Charles Tapper, who is on IR with a back injury.
Teams can return one player from IR during the season.
A second-year player who went undrafted because his name surfaced in a murder investigation just before the 2015 draft, Collins became a starter as a rookie. Ron Leary, the blocker Collins replaced, is starting again after Collins was injured in Week 3 against Chicago.
Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith practiced for the first time in almost two weeks. Smith, who was limited, has missed the past two games with a back injury.
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