Dallas Cowboys OL veteran tells it straight: ‘It’s a results oriented league’

The Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line will be in the same boat, more or less, as it was for last year’s game in Atlanta.

Dallas was without left tackle Tyron Smith and the Falcons ran roughshod over replacement Chaz Green. Atlanta sacked Dak Prescott eight times during a demoralizing 27-7 Cowboys’ loss.

Center Travis Frederick, who has been out the entire season while recovering from Guillain-Barré syndrome, knows the O-line faces a similar tasks with his absence, and the potential that left guard Connor Williams will miss a second consecutive game because of injury. Smith missed Wednesday’s practice with a sore back and right guard Zack Martin is still nursing a sprained knee and did not practice. Williams, who injured his knee two weeks ago against the Titans, was limited.

“There’s a reason the people that start, start,” said Frederick, who is acting as something of an assistant offensive line coach while he recovers. “You win the competition for the job so you want those people in. The next person needs to step up. Luckily, Xavier [Su’a-Filo] did a great job of stepping up. No matter what the situation is you have to make the best of it. That’s the goal when you don’t have the people you’re supposed to have in there you just have to continue to perform.”

Frederick wasn’t lamenting the calamity in Atlanta a year ago, nor was he predicting an opposite outcome, at least with respect to the trenches. But he offered a matter-of-fact assessment of the Cowboys’ situation, which includes the cruel fact that last week’s stunning win in Philadelphia means very little if they lose in Atlanta.

“It’s a results oriented league. You don’t have time to say, ‘This game doesn’t count because we didn’t have all of our guys,’” he said. “You just have to be your best no matter what.”

Frederick said his progress is improving slowly but steady. The feeling is coming back in his hands, but he’s still battling numbness. He’s eligible to come off the injured reserve list in a month but it’s looking doubtful he’ll play in 2018.

This story was originally published November 15, 2018 at 9:00 AM.