The Dallas Cowboys are still riding the high from Thursday's season-altering win over the Kansas City Chiefs. America's Team is closer than ever to rejoining the playoff conversation after the Thanksgiving success, made more impressive by the fact that the Cowboys were without starting left tackle Tyler Guyton, who was out with an ankle injury.
Guyton, 23, hasn't been perfect in his second year with the Cowboys, but it's safe to say the team would prefer to play most games with all their starters. Fortunately, Dallas' offense weathered the storm with Nate Thomas and Terrence Steele starting on the left and right sides of the offensive line, respectively.
With that in mind, it's safe to say Guyton's outlook in the Lone Star State suffered a bit of a blow as his teammates thrived in his absence on Thursday.
Nate Thomas, Terrence Steele Could Have Dallas Reconsidering Tyler Guyton's Role
Starting in Guyton's absence, Thomas was impressive, only giving up a quarterback hurry on 39 pass protection plays, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, Steele had his best game of the season, only giving up a single QB hurry, too, while tallying a team-high 89.6 pass blocking mark. It was one of the most encouraging efforts the Cowboys have seen from their tackle position this season, giving head coach Brian Schottenheimer plenty to think about.
With how confident the Cowboys' offense played against the Chiefs, Schottenheimer could be tempted to run things back with Thomas starting opposite Steele. High-ankle sprains don't always heal quickly, and with Dallas playing again on Thursday Night Football in Week 14, the ex-2024 seventh-rounder could take a huge step to prove that he's a starter-caliber player. If he can do that, it might be hard to put Guyton back as the LT1.
It's safe to say that Guyton's start to his time with the Cowboys hasn't exactly been smooth. The 6-foot-7, 327-pound blocker was drafted 29th overall in 2024 after standing out as a right tackle with the Oklahoma Sooners. However, Dallas immediately began converting him to the left side due to former LT1 Tyron Smith signing with the New York Jets in free agency.
Ex-Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was confident in Guyton's ability to switch sides, but that belief didn't transfer into immediate results. As a rookie, he surrendered 26 pressures (14 hurries, six quarterback hits, six sacks) on 439 pass blocking downs, culminating in an okay-but-nothing-special 60.2 pass block grade on Pro Football Focus, as well as a mark of 51.3 as a run blocker.
Anyone hoping for a turnaround in Year 2 has been left disappointed so far.
While Guyton has been better as a run blocker this season, his pass protection has fallen off a cliff, as he's already given up more pressures (31) than he did last year despite playing 21 fewer pass-blocking downs so far. He's had as many games with a sub-50.0 pass protection grade on PFF as he's had above 60.0, highlighting just how inconsistent he's been. If he keeps struggling when he returns, it's going to be hard to justify his playing time.
So, what's next for Guyton when he returns?
Cowboys Have OT Decisions to Make Down the Stretch
The easiest option for Schottenheimer & Co. would be to revert to the status quo once Guyton returns, with him on the left and Steele on the right. At the same time, what's easy might not be the right choice, especially after how in unison the offensive line looked against the Chiefs.
Perhaps the Cowboys will rotate between Guyton and Thomas at LT, depending on the series and who does/doesn't need a breather. They could also opt to move Guyton back to his natural RT position and use Steele as the backup, given that the latter hasn't exactly been perfect this season either. After all, Steele is a potential offseason divorce candidate, as a post-June 1 release or trade would net $14 million in salary cap savings, per Spotrac.
Considering how he's now accumulated experience on both sides of the O-line, the Cowboys could even consider using Guyton as their swing tackle. That way, he could get plenty of reps in place for both Thomas and Steele, potentially giving Dallas a reliable trio it can count on without hesitation during the late-season crunch.
The Cowboys' OT situation might not have a clear solution right now, but that doesn't mean this is a bad problem to have. If the coaching staff can successfully navigate things and come out on the other side with everyone having a defined role they can excel in, Dallas' best offensive performances may still be on the horizon. And that's exciting.