Jerry Jones is optimistic, but realistic about the Cowboys’ problems at left tackle.

While he is high on rookie left tackle Tyler Smith, who is being asked to replace injured starter Tyron Smith, he knows Dallas will “pay some price” for going with such a young player at that spot.

Jones, the Cowboys’ owner, president and general manager, said it is likely that first-round pick Tyler Smith will be the starter, although there is talk of bringing in veteran Jason Peters to play there.

“Well, I think Tyler is going to get his man,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “What’s that mean? He’s going to get his man, and I think he’s going to do a good job of it. Is he not going to get him all the time? Yes. We need to have somebody there to help him out, we need to keep some out, to cut some out of the offense, you need to cut it out a little bit and help him out. But I think he’ll get his man, I think he will get better. I think that’s the nature of the position and football.

“He’s got everything we hoped and more when we drafted him. That’s exactly what we drafted him for, to come in and be the left tackle. So he had a really outstanding camp, all of the things are there. Do I wish we had Tyron? Yes. Will we get Tyron back? Likely. But in the meantime he’s going to come in and he’s going to get a Harvard doctorate degree at playing left tackle between now and then. Will we pay some price for it? Yes. Can we win with him paying a price? I think so, yes.”