Cowboys End Left Tackle Battle, Name Tyler Guyton Starter Over Nate Thomas

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t need much time to make up their minds. One padded practice was enough.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that Tyler Guyton will be the team’s starting left tackle, ending a training camp competition with second-year tackle Nate Thomas that had been building since the offseason, according to NFL.com.

“We’re gonna keep him at starting left tackle right now,” Schottenheimer said. “We talked to Nate. Nate needs to show us a little bit more consistent play to push for that. I know we told you guys about the rotation, so Tyler will stay at left tackle.”

The plan, per ESPN, had been to rotate Guyton and Thomas every four days during camp in Oxnard, California. That plan lasted exactly one padded session before Dallas scrapped it and handed Guyton the first-team reps full time.

Why Schottenheimer Pulled the Plug Early

Guyton earned it on the field, not just by default. Schottenheimer pointed to the third-year lineman’s performance through the opening week of camp as the deciding factor, not just draft pedigree. “I think you feel confidence,” Schottenheimer said of what he’s seen from Guyton, per ESPN.

Thomas, a seventh-round pick in 2024 who missed his entire rookie season with knee tendinitis, wasn’t included on this year’s initial 90-man competition sheet as a total afterthought. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan, according to SI.com, that Thomas had “exceeded expectations” and was “serious-minded” during the early days of camp. That praise is part of why the battle got real buzz in the first place.

But the talent gap showed up once the pads came on. Guyton is a former first-round pick out of Oklahoma. Thomas started four games as a rookie last season. Schottenheimer made clear the competition, while genuine, was always going to lean toward the more proven player if he showed up ready.

Guyton’s Injury History Looms Over the Decision

Staying healthy is the real question mark, not talent. Guyton has started 21 of the 25 games he’s played across his first two NFL seasons. He started all 10 games he appeared in during 2025 before a high-ankle sprain ended his year early, per SI.com’s Cowboys Country. As a rookie in 2024, he also missed time with knee and shoulder injuries and dealt with a scary knee fracture that was initially feared to be a torn ACL.

That pattern resurfaced this week. Guyton was limited in Tuesday’s practice with a sore elbow, and multiple outlets, including CBS Sports citing Jon Machota of The Athletic, confirmed he sat out portions of team drills as a precaution. Coaches downplayed the severity, and Guyton returned to practice Thursday, per the team’s official site.

What It Means for Dak Prescott and the Offense

Protecting Dak Prescott’s blindside is the entire point of this decision. Prescott is the highest-paid quarterback in the league, and a shaky left tackle spot puts real strain on the passing game Schottenheimer is trying to build around him. By ending the competition early, Dallas gives Guyton a full camp’s worth of first-team reps to build chemistry with Prescott and the rest of the offensive line, rather than splitting time and slowing that development down.

It also puts Thomas in a clearer developmental role. He’ll work as Guyton’s primary backup, with the coaching staff still pushing him to sharpen his consistency, particularly in pass protection, where Pro Football Focus graded him just 31.6 last season compared to a 52.9 mark as a run blocker, per Heavy.com.

If Guyton stays on the field, this is a non-story by September. If the elbow, or anything else, turns into