The Dallas Cowboys could be without Connor McGovern for the entirety of his debut season. According to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram, the rookie guard suffered a setback in his recovery from a pectoral injury, putting his ability to return to the field in jeopardy.

ESPN's Todd Archer shed further light on the extent of McGovern's injury, reporting that it's unknown whether or not he will require surgery.

“It’s not clear whether McGovern would need surgery or attempt to rehab the injury again. He could be placed on injured reserve at Saturday’s final cuts or placed on IR a day later, which would allow him to return later in the season.”

McGovern partially tore his pectoral muscle during offseason training in June, and was subsequently forced to miss mini-camp. He was able to take part in two practices early in training camp, but was sidelined again after feeling additional discomfort.

A third-round pick out of Penn State, the 6-foot-5, 323-pounder was poised to compete for a starting spot at left guard, with many analysts and fans slotting him into that role immediately after he was drafted due to his sheer size and power in the running game. Connor Williams, Joe Looney, and Xavier Su’a-Filo stand to be the biggest beneficiaries of McGovern's extended absence, with the former likely to maintain his grip on first-string left guard for the foreseeable future.

Where the Cowboys go from here with McGovern will be telling. If they place him on injured reserve now rather than waiting until Week 1, he'll be sidelined for the duration of 2019.