The Cowboys have already made one notable pivot at left tackle, and it puts Tyler Guyton in the clearest position he’s had yet in camp.
Before Tuesday’s second padded practice, Brian Schottenheimer said Dallas is no longer treating left tackle like an open battle. Instead, Guyton is going to keep getting the first-team snaps there, and the coach said the young tackle has been performing well through the first week-plus of camp.
That’s a shift from the original setup. Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reported, “Notable: Brian Schottenheimer originally said Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas would rotate with the starters in camp.
That’s been changed,” and added, “Schotty said Guyton will stay at starting LT. He mentioned he’s playing really well and they’re challenging Nate Thomas to take another step,” Hoyt added.
It’s not exactly shocking that Guyton is trending toward the job. He has held the left tackle spot in each of the past two seasons, and the Cowboys made it clear earlier this offseason that he would have to earn it again. Schottenheimer had pointed to Nate Thomas as the player who would push him for the role.
Then came the camp plan change. Dallas had said it would rotate players at left tackle every four sessions, but that approach is now out the window. The message is pretty simple: Guyton has done enough to keep the staff comfortable for now.
That matters because this is a big year for him. The trust from the coaches is important, but the real proof still has to come when the games count. Guyton knows that, too.
"I'm not all the way where I want to be yet, and that's what camp is for," Guyton admitted. "I'm still trying to get better every single day, but it [definitely] feels like I'm going into my third year in the NFL. Things are slowing down for me and I'm learning more every day."
Health remains a major part of the equation. Guyton has missed nine games over two seasons, including seven in 2025.
Tuesday’s update also suggests Tyler Smith won’t be spending time at left tackle right now, which gives Dallas a chance to keep the same front it used in 2025 and build some continuity up front.
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