The Dallas Cowboys were pretty banged up ahead of Sunday's matchup with the New York Jets. They traveled to MetLife Stadium without multiple soldiers, and they desperately needed someone to step up to avoid an upset loss to the Jets.
The Cowboys' next-man-up mentality ended up playing a key role in a 37-22 win over the Jets in Week 5. Although a win is a win, the effort was far from flawless. That's why, even though he did well enough, all things considered, offensive tackle Nate Thomas still has to watch the game tape and put in a lot of work if he wants to keep his job moving forward.
Nate Thomas Was Cowboys' Weakest Link in Week 5
The Cowboys had Tyler Smith, Tyler Guyton, Tyler Booker, and Cooper Beebee all missing practice with injuries. That forced Schottenheimer's hand to roll with Nathan Thomas to get his very first NFL start.
Thomas had plenty of reps in training camp when Guyton was out with an injury, and he even got to play in the preseason, but he hadn't made an appearance in a regular-season game until Week 1. He also didn't play any offensive snaps until Week 4 and, much to his dismay, his inexperience was evident.
Thomas finished Sunday's victory with 53.4 overall and 52.8 pass block grades on Pro Football Focus, which were the lowest among Dallas' starting linemen. If it wasn't for quarterback Dak Prescott, who was more mobile in the pocket than usual, this could've been a long day on offense for the Cowboys. Fortunately, the Jets only had one sack for a loss of one yard.
Even so, all in all, it's hard to blame the former seventh-round pick. Thomas showed flashes of solid play, and with his physical tools, raw power, and upside, there's still plenty to work with. The Cowboys would be wise to keep developing if they want him to be a viable option. Otherwise, his mistakes will continue to grow.
As much as the Jets have struggled this season, their pass rush is still quite solid, and they were going to put up a lot of pressure at the line of scrimmage and go against Prescott with as many men as they could, knowing that he was going to play behind a decimated and inexperienced offensive line.
The Cowboys will now turn their focus to another road game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6. Hopefully, Thomas bounces back with a strong effort, depending on how much playing time he sees. Otherwise, Dallas might have to rethink his spot on the roster.