FRISCO, Texas — Tyler Guyton was learning the NFL and a new position at the same time as a rookie. Dallas has missed the playoffs in both of his seasons.
“It takes time, though. I had to get the reps under my belt, and I had to go through some losses and never win,” Guyton said. “So it’s a process. You’ve got to take every day for what it is, but over time, the confidence is built through repetition and practice.”
The Dallas Cowboys took Guyton 29th overall in 2024 out of Oklahoma, where he played right tackle. He moved to the left side as a rookie and has 21 starts in 25 career games.
He missed time in each of his first two years and went on injured reserve last December. Tyler Smith started the final three games of the 2025 season at left tackle in his place.
Guyton said Monday that this offseason was the best he has felt going into a year, and that he changed his diet, worked out harder, and did prehab instead of rehab.
Tyler Guyton On Why The Dallas Cowboys Opener At The New York Giants Matters
Sunday is a division game at MetLife Stadium, where the New York Giants closed last season with a 34-17 win over Dallas. The Cowboys had taken the first meeting 40-37 in overtime at AT&T Stadium.
“It’s the biggest game for us right now. It’s the next opportunity,” Guyton explained. “So it’s all we’re worried about right now. We’re not looking too far into the future. We’re starting with week one because we’ve got to win this game first.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer named Guyton the starting left tackle after four padded practices in Oxnard, California. Dallas traded Nathan Thomas to the Houston Texans a day after acquiring Broderick Jones. Rookie Drew Shelton is behind Guyton.
Schottenheimer said on Aug. 28 that Guyton’s play at left tackle was the reason Smith never took a rep at tackle outside of walk-throughs this summer.
Where Tyler Guyton Stands On The Dallas Cowboys Offensive Line
Guyton opens the season without Smith beside him for the first time in three years. Smith has surgery on his left thumb Tuesday morning and is headed for injured reserve with a designation to return, an absence Schottenheimer put at four to six weeks. T.J. Bass steps in at left guard.
Terence Steele and Jones are competing at right tackle, and Schottenheimer said Monday that Steele is the starting right tackle right now. Cooper Beebe and Tyler Booker are on the interior. Dallas carried eight offensive linemen out of camp and set its initial 53-man roster on Aug. 30 with 24 players on offense.
The line Guyton anchors finished second in the NFL in total offense last season at 391.9 yards per game and second in scoring efficiency at 48.0%. Dallas ranked ninth in rushing at 125.6 yards per game and finished in the top 10 in both rushing and passing for the first time since 2021.
The Giants front includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, and fifth overall pick Arvell Reese. John Harbaugh took over this offseason and brought 15 assistants with him from the Baltimore Ravens.
Dallas finished 7-9-1 last season. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
