Sunday's comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles wasn't without a stain, as the Dallas Cowboys lost starting left tackle Tyler Guyton to an ankle injury in the second half. Although there's no telling how much time the second-year pro will miss, ESPN NFL reporter Todd Archer has revealed that Guyton "is dealing with a high ankle sprain and is unlikely" to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day.
Although being without a starter isn't ideal, the Cowboys' missing Guyton in Week 13 won't be the end of the world. After all, it'll give them a chance to see what they have in rookie blocker Nate Thomas, potentially giving Dallas a hint at what the offensive line could look like in 2026 and beyond.
Tyler Guyton's Absence is Perfect Time for Nate Thomas to Shine
As unfortunate as injuries are in the NFL, it's all about how teams adapt to them. The Cowboys drafted Thomas with the 2025 draft's 233rd selection with the hopes that he could develop into a contributor one day. That day just happened to come a lot sooner than expected.
The good news is that Thomas has previously started in Guyton's absence, getting the nod against the New York Jets in Week 5. It was far from the most encouraging performance, though, as the ex-Louisiana Ragin' Cajun allowed three pressures before finishing the day with a 29.1 pass block grade on Pro Football Focus. He hasn't played much since then, though, seeing only 19 offensive snaps from Week 6 on before replacing Guyton on Sunday.
Fortunately, the rookie offensive linemen didn't let the team down on Sunday. He allowed only two pressures across 20 pass-blocking downs, finishing with a season-high 77.1 grade in pass protection. Is it a small sample size? Sure, but it at least shows he's ready to stand up when adversity strikes.
Beyond that, Thomas becoming a long-term solution at left tackle would be great if he continues being more disciplined than his predecessor. Guyton is already on the hook for seven penalties this season, which puts him at 25 since his NFL debut. Meanwhile, Thomas has only been flagged twice without a call since Week 5. That's the time of reliable and disciplined play the O-line needs each week.
And, who knows? Perhaps Thomas could even have an impact on the other side of the line.
Nate Thomas Could Help Cowboys with Their Terrence Steele Issue
It'd be quite the story if Thomas makes the most of his opportunity and somehow runs away with the LT1 role. That's obviously far from guaranteed; however, if it does happen, it'd play a huge role in the Cowboys' decision on Terrence Steele's future with the franchise.
With a cap hit of $18.1 million, per Spotrac, it's safe to say that Steele isn't living up to the hype this season. His PFF pass block grade (56.4) is trending in the wrong direction, and he hasn't finished with a mark above 60.0 since 2022. That's without mentioning how he's giving up pressure on 7.4% of passing downs, which is noticeably lower than last year's effort (5.5%).
Considering how a post-June 1 divorce would create $14 million in salary cap savings, it's easy to see why the Cowboys would (and maybe even should) consider cutting ties with Steele. If that happens, Dallas can rest easy with Thomas on the left side while Guyton moves over to the right, where he played most of his collegiate career as an Oklahoma Sooner.
Needless to say, the Cowboys' LT situation is going to be interesting to watch in the coming days. If Thomas thrives, it could move Guyton and Thomas around, with the latter potentially being kicked out of the Lone Star State entirely.
But if Thomas struggles beneath the Thanksgiving spotlight, the Cowboys may have to reconsider if their offensive line depth is adequate moving forward.