ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Cowboys guard Tyler Smith has not taken a rep at tackle outside of walk-throughs this summer. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Friday night there is a reason for that, and the reason is Tyler Guyton.
“There’s a reason for that. Tyler Guyton’s playing as good a football as I’ve seen him play since he’s been a Dallas Cowboy, and he deserves to be praised for that,” Schottenheimer said. “I’m really excited to see how he does. I think he’s playing at a very, very, very high level.”
Guyton did not play in the 27-24 preseason loss to the New Orleans Saints. Neither did Smith nor Terence Steele. Rosters cut to 53 players at 5 p.m. CT Sunday.
Brian Schottenheimer On Tyler Guyton’s Camp
Dallas drafted Guyton 29th overall in 2024 and installed him at left tackle as a rookie. He played 10 games last season before the Cowboys placed him on injured reserve on Dec. 24. He has 21 starts in 25 career games. Pro Football Focus graded him 81st among 89 qualified tackles in pass blocking last season and charged him with 31 pressures allowed and 7 penalties.
Guyton entered camp competing with Nathan Thomas for the job.
“I think it’s more of the mindset. I want to give Tyler a little bit of credit. Sometimes when you talk about injuries, you’re like, well, you got some good breaks,” Schottenheimer said. “His mindset’s been different, Clarence. From the time he came back in the building, he’s been different. His attitude at practice, the intensity that he’s been practicing at. The one-one reps. He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say how proud I am of Tyler and how hard he’s worked.”
Smith was the alternative. Dallas drafted him 24th overall in 2022, started him at left tackle for all 17 games as a rookie, then moved him to left guard in 2023. He has made three straight Pro Bowls there and was a second-team All-Pro in 2023. He took snaps at left tackle late last season after Guyton went on injured reserve.
“I don’t like to move two people, Todd, if that makes sense. You’d rather not move two people, meaning you bump him out and you have to bump somebody in,” Schottenheimer said. “So I’d rather not do that, but all options are open. But that wouldn’t be the first choice.”
Nathan Thomas And Drew Shelton At Swing Tackle
Dallas started Drew Shelton at left tackle and Thomas at right tackle against New Orleans. The Cowboys allowed 2 sacks for 10 yards and ran 26 times for 91 yards. Shelton drew a holding penalty in the second quarter that pushed Dallas from the New Orleans 41 back to its own 49.
“I think we feel good about our tackle group. I want to see the film to see how Nate did,” Schottenheimer said. “Nate and Drew have been competing, but I want to see the film. But I thought we had a couple really good days.”
Thomas is a 2024 seventh-round pick out of Louisiana with 4 starts in 17 career games. Shelton went 112th overall in April out of Penn State, where he started all 16 games at left tackle during the 2024 College Football Playoff run.
“We’re trying to get them to play on the right and the left. What we asked these guys to do, we did it on purpose,” Schottenheimer said. “We basically practiced Nate on the left for four weeks. And then right before the Arizona game, a couple of days before, we moved him to the right and did the same thing with Drew, and you do that for a reason. Everything’s backwards. My set, my stance, my punch, my outside post hand is different.
“It’s not easy to do, but I’d rather do it now so they get the experience, and when they’re forced into action, which they will be at some point, they have the confidence to go out there and play at a high level,” he explained.
Dallas opens at the New York Giants on Sept. 13. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
