OXNARD, Calif. -- The Dallas Cowboys have signed Tyron Smith to an eight-year contract extension that locks up the Pro Bowl left tackle through the 2023 season.
The extension signed Wednesday is worth $98 million, pushing the total value of his deal to 10 years and $110 million. Smith gets a $10-million signing bonus and $40 million in guaranteed money.
The long contract means Smith will likely be the most important blocker for Tony Romo and whoever replaces the 34-year-old quarterback.
Smith was just 20 when Dallas drafted him ninth overall in 2011. He has started all 47 games in his career, missing one game with a sprained ankle in 2012. He played right tackle as a rookie before moving to the left side.
* Cowboys rookie defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will miss at least two months after breaking his right foot in practice at training camp.
Coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday that Lawrence would return to Dallas for surgery and miss eight to 12 weeks. The surgery is set for today.
Lawrence was in a one-on-one drill with Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith on Tuesday when his foot got caught as Smith pushed him to the ground.
Dallas could place Lawrence on the short-term injured list. He would miss the first six weeks of practice and the first eight games in the regular season.
The Cowboys moved to near the top of the second round to draft Lawrence out of Boise State after releasing franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware in a salary cap move in March.
The Ware move signaled an overhaul of the defensive front for Dallas. The Cowboys let tackle Jason Hatcher go to NFC East rival Washington in free agency after he led them with a career-high 11 sacks last year. Ware signed with Denver.
Sports on 07/31/2014