FRISCO, Texas — Terence Steele has not altered his work ethic or his mindset since Dallas traded for Broderick Jones, Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday, four days before the season opener at the New York Giants.
The Cowboys acquired Jones and a 2027 fourth-round pick from Pittsburgh on Aug. 29 for 2027 third- and sixth-round picks. Schottenheimer said two days later that Steele was the right tackle 1A, that Jones had to show he could do the job, and that Jones would take no snaps on the left side.
“Hasn’t changed at all from his work ethic, his mindset. He’ll be the first guy out at practice today, I’m sure, going through his pre-practice routine,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, Todd, all I can say is he’s done a really good job with the reps that we’ve had. And I was not surprised when I called him and informed him of what we were doing that he didn’t hesitate. He understands the business. He’s been around a long time. And I think he’s stacking really good days. And we expect him to go into this game playing well. But at the same time, Broderick’s just absolutely diving into the playbook and all the different things that we’re doing, which is good.”
Dallas has held two padded practices this week and worked indoors Wednesday.
Terence Steele’s Contract, Snaps, And Last Season
Steele arrived undrafted out of Texas Tech in 2020 and has started 91 of his 96 games. He signed an extension ahead of the 2023 season, then took a pay cut in March, restructuring into a three-year deal worth $33 million with $22 million fully guaranteed and a maximum value of $36 million. His contract carries $34.1 million in dead money, according to Spotrac.
Last season Steele played 1,162 offensive snaps, 98% of the team total, and started all 17 games. Pro Football Focus graded his pass blocking 54.9, which ranked 76th among 89 qualified tackles.
Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams said on Aug. 19 that he and Steele had talked that morning about finding consistency. Schottenheimer had raised the same subject with Steele during the offseason program.
Broderick Jones In The Dallas Playbook
Pittsburgh took Jones 14th overall in 2023 out of Georgia. He played 45 games with 38 starts across three seasons there and worked at both tackle spots before playing the left side exclusively in 2025. He started 16 of 17 games at right tackle in 2024. An awkward hit to his neck on Nov. 23 against Chicago ended his 2025 season and cost him the final six games.
Pittsburgh declined his fifth-year option on April 30, an option worth just under $19.1 million, which puts Jones in the final year of his rookie contract. He played 142 snaps across three Steelers preseason games before the trade. Jones wears No. 77 in honor of former Georgia teammate Devin Willock, who died in a car crash in January 2023.
The two clubs also traded in May 2025, when Pittsburgh sent George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick to Dallas.
Tyler Guyton is the starter at left tackle, with fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton behind him. Guyton has started 21 games across two seasons and played 650 offensive snaps last year before going on injured reserve on Dec. 24. Dallas traded Nate Thomas to Houston for a 2027 seventh-round pick after the Jones deal.
Kickoff at MetLife Stadium is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
