Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has built his reputation as a pocket passer who prefers to stand tall, scan the field, and deliver throws from a clean pocket rather than scramble.

That style of play makes the interior of the offensive line every bit as important as the tackle spots, according to former All-Pro center Jeff Saturday.

The veteran analyst, who spent 13 seasons protecting Peyton Manning, now sees a significant problem after Monday’s announcement that left guard Tyler Smith will undergo surgery to repair a ligament in his wrist.

Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best guards and the Cowboys’ top offensive lineman, was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss four to six weeks. Saturday, speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, called the news “massive.”

He pointed out that the Cowboys open the season with two division games and that Prescott’s preference for staying in the pocket leaves him especially vulnerable to interior pressure.

“This is a Peyton Manning, Tom Brady style quarterback,” Saturday said. “Dak wants to stay in the pocket and tear you up from there. Internal pressure is a problem.”

The timing compounds the concern. Center Cooper Beebe and right guard Tyler Booker are both entering only their second seasons. Smith had been the experienced, physical presence who set the tone and handled communication on the interior.

Saturday also noted that even after Smith returns, a wrist injury can rob an offensive lineman of the grip strength needed to lock onto defenders and pass off stunts. “Offensive linemen, you’re meant to grab stuff,” he said. “If you can’t grab, it makes it a very difficult job.”

The Cowboys will turn to T.J. Bass, an undrafted free agent who has served as a reliable backup for three years.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer expressed confidence in Bass, noting that the veteran has already played next to Beebe and left tackle Tyler Guyton and that the team re-signed him in restricted free agency because they trust him.

Still, Saturday’s larger question lingered: Can Prescott keep the young line organized and the offense on schedule without Smith’s leadership and intensity at the start of the season?

For a Cowboys team expecting a high-powered attack built around Prescott and a talented group of skill players, the next month will test how well the interior can hold up.

The quarterback’s ability to operate from a stable pocket may determine whether the early-season schedule becomes an opportunity or an obstacle.