Rob Jones came to Dallas this year from the Miami Dolphins, and with starting experience under his belt, he was competing against first round pick Tyler Booker for the starting job in Week 1. That possibility has went out the window, as Jones broke a bone in his neck and is expected to miss 2-3 months. This injury forces the Dallas Cowboys to change their evaluation and their approach to training camp, the preseason, and Week 1.

The Cowboys signed Jones and we were hypocritical based on his performance last year with the Dolphins. Jones ranked dead-last on the Pro Football Focus grade for offensive guards. Jones did not look like a suitable replacement for an All-Pro and first ballot Hall of Famer, Zack Martin. If anything, Jones’ one-year deal was a chance for him to fight for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Despite a down year in South Beach, Jones came into this camp and wowed the coaching staff. He impressed his superiors so much that he began taking first-team snaps ahead of top pick, Tyler Booker.

Brian Schottenheimer is instilling a mindset that rewards players for on-field productivity. For Booker, his status as a top draft pick gives him zero merit to start Week 1. There’s been flashes where Jones has outplayed Booker early on in camp, so he was rewarded for his work ethic.

It’s hard to imagine a world where Tyler Booker wasn’t starting in Dallas this year, but Rob Jones was surprisingly giving Booker a run for his money. Now, we’ll never know if Jones would have been the starter in Week 1 because of these unfortunate circumstances.

With the injury ruling Jones out, we are back to a starting lineup that could consist of Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Booker, and Terence Steele. If this unit gels and stays healthy, it could be harder for Jones to crack the starting lineup when he is 100%.

This injury might impact the starting five, but depth should not be an issue. More than 18 offensive linemen were on this roster this offseason and if Jones starts the season on the PUP list or IR, the Cowboys will have plenty of players to pick from. Whatever Klayton Adams, the Cardinals offensive line coach turned Cowboys offensive coordinator, decides to do will be up to him. He’ll have his pick of offensive linemen to protect Dak Prescott and block for a running game.

For Jones, his support to Tyler Booker while he’s sidelined, could help keep him in a mentor role while he heals up. But depending on how Booker performs and how much he absorbs, could lead to Jones’ tenure in Dallas being short lived.

As for Dallas, this is a blow based on Rob Jones and his start to the offseason programs, but they can throw their rookie into the fire and see if they hit another gem in the first round by selecting an offensive lineman.