The Dallas Cowboys are depending on Chaz Green to play a big role for the offensive line in 2017, but can he stay on the field to reach his full potential?
Chaz Green was a top 100 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft — 91st overall — and when the Dallas Cowboys selected him, it seemed like they were selecting a player who, with the proper amount of work, could become a solid piece of their offensive line unit for the foreseeable future.
After Green played in just four games (two starts) in mostly a reserve role in his first injury-riddled two seasons, the jury was still out on the former third-round pick as to what he could bring the Cowboys and if he was a solid addition to the already stout offensive line.
The 6-5, 300-pound Green was placed in the starting lineup this offseason to replace the retired Doug Free at right tackle or to take over the left guard starting spot. In the Saturday preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, Green suffered another injury in his short NFL career, a mild ankle sprain, leaving possibly more questions than answers for him as he begins his third NFL season.
More from Dallas Cowboys
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Zack is back, good news for Dak and the Cowboys
- Dallas Cowboys: Are Dak’s interceptions cause for concern?
- Cowboys: Micah Parsons will be even more impactful in 2023
- 2023 NFL Season: It’s now or never for the Dallas Cowboys
As for the preseason game against the Raiders, Kate Hairopoulos of SportsDay Dallas News wrote this of Green’s performance on Saturday:
"Green had moved to left tackle after starter Tyron Smith exited the game in the first half. When Green went out, that left Byron Bell playing left tackle for one snap that included starting quarterback Dak Prescott. Earlier in the half, Green gave up a sack on Prescott, who took a loss of 12 yards."
One way to not earn a starting job at guard (he’s in a position battle with Jonathan Cooper) is to let franchise quarterback Dak Prescott get sacked for a big loss in a preseason game against a tough defense like the Raiders.
The questions regarding Green aren’t his talent, because he showed the talent at Florida to be a third-round pick. The franchise must think very highly of him and his talents if they chose him to be a part of the offensive line that includes three All-Pros in center Travis Frederick, left tackle Tyron Smith and right guard Zack Martin.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Green possesses the talent to become a very good player in the NFL, but the question for him is at what position (guard or tackle), and even more importantly, can he stay healthy and reliable for the Cowboys? To go with his ankle issue from the preseason game this past Saturday, Green has also had shoulder issues this preseason as well.
In 2015, Green didn’t play in a game, missing all of his rookie season with a hip issue, and last year he had back surgery that cost him most of the season.
The Cowboys can ill afford to not have their offensive line at the best they can be once Week 1 arrives. Having second-year running back Ezekiel Elliott out with a six-game suspension to start the season, the Cowboys need the already stout offensive line to be even better than they’ve been in the past, and that is asking for a lot.
The offensive line hasn’t looked like a well-oiled machine thus far this preseason, but once the games count, the Cowboys really need Green to be a part of this next chapter of the unit as they look to replace a couple players from last year.
Next: NFL 2017: Predicting one surprise cut for each team
Can Green stay on the field for the 2017 season? The Cowboys need him, and he has the talent to be productive. Now the only thing that needs to happen is for all the stars to align and Green to stay healthy to get into a good rhythm for the 2017 NFL season.