Chaz Green to have back surgery, will be placed on injured reserve
12:05 PM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas -- After weeks of hoping a back injury would improve enough to allow him to return to the lineup, Dallas Cowboys backup offensive tackle Chaz Green has opted to have surgery on a herniated disc.
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Green returned to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday with the hopes of possibly being able to play on Sunday for the first time since Oct. 2. But he was not able to practice Thursday and had another MRI on his back. He will be placed on injured reserve.
Green, a third-round pick in 2015, started two games earlier in the season with Tyron Smith missing two games earlier this season. He did not play in a game last year because of offseason hip surgery.
With Green out, Emmett Cleary would continue as the swing tackle between Smith and Doug Free.
“We’re excited about what we’ve seen [from Green] but over the last couple of years, he’s been hurt a lot,” coach Jason Garrett said. “So availability is important, but he’s a very conscientious guy. He’s a very hard-working guy. Hopefully these are the things like, with other players, we’ve had and guys around the league, sometimes you just get an injury-bug and you have some different things happen to you over time. It’s not because he’s not dedicated and conscientious. He’s all of that and more, and hopefully this can get behind him. We’ll do this surgery with him, and he’ll get back to work. He’s got a bright future. There’s no doubt in our minds about that. And anytime he has played, he’s certainly done a nice job for us for a young player.”
With defensive tackle Cedric Thornton missing his third straight day of practice with a high ankle sprain and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence’s status uncertain for Sunday, the Cowboys are likely to call up defensive end Zach Moore from the practice squad to fill Green’s spot.
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Sucks because he is actually pretty good when healthy. Now we have to pray Tyron's back hold out this season.