As the Dallas Cowboys near the end of their training camp in Oxnard, the team is focusing on its offensive line depth. While the starting five players are confirmed, the backup center position has emerged as a significant concern following a season-ending neck injury to veteran Matt Hennessy.
In light of Hennessy's injury, T.J. Bass has been designated as the primary backup center. Although Bass is primarily known for his guard play, he has started in 10 games over the past three seasons and was recognized this offseason with a second-round tender worth $5.76 million.
In the first preseason game, he played two series at center before being substituted for veteran Nick Leverett, who has experience at guard and one career start at center from 2024.
After the preseason win, Leverett was seen practicing extensively in the backup center role, while Bass returned to guard. This indicates that the Cowboys may be considering Leverett as a potential backup center. With starter Cooper Beebe's previous injury history, securing a dependable backup center is crucial.
The Cowboys will continue to evaluate both Bass and Leverett as they finalize their offensive line strategy in the coming weeks.
