The Dallas Cowboys will enter their upcoming Thanksgiving game against the Kansas City Chiefs without starting left tackle Tyler Guyton, who was officially ruled out Wednesday with an ankle injury.
In his place, sophomore Nate Thomas, a 2024 seventh-round pick, is expected to step in at tackle.
Guyton has been a serviceable starter for Dallas this season, but he has struggled at times, especially in pass protection.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged the difficulty this week will pose, saying, “all these ankles are different. We’ll see how he does. He didn’t do anything today and [won’t] do much tomorrow. [We’re] pretty bruised and banged up but we’ll see.”
According to Pro Football Focus, his pass-blocking grade has been among the lower marks for starting tackles, and he has been flagged for multiple penalties while giving up sacks at inopportune moments.
Guyton‘s absence leaves a considerable hole in Dallas‘ offensive line, a unit already under scrutiny during a season of ups and downs.
Roster shift comes as cowboys seek offensive stability
Despite Guyton‘s absence, there is some good news for the Cowboys. Wide receiver George Pickens, who had been listed on the injury report earlier this week with knee and calf concerns, logged a full practice Wednesday and is expected to play.
Several other contributors, including Osa Odighizuwa, KaVontae Turpin, Donovan Wilson, and DaRon Bland, were all upgraded to full participation on the latest report.
Meanwhile, second-year cornerback Caelen Carson is the only other Cowboy with a questionable tag, after suffering a hamstring issue that limited his practice Tuesday.
Dallas‘s projected 2025 starting offensive-line configuration had Guyton at left tackle, with guard Tyler Smith, center Cooper Beebe, guard Tyler Booker, and tackle Terence Steele rounding out the unit.
However, the staff has emphasized ongoing competition and flexibility across the line to find the best combinations.
Guyton‘s absence comes at a challenging moment: the matchup against the Chiefs on a short week demands both strong pass protection and effective run blocking.
Dallas will likely need to rely on quick release passing, tight-end help, and increased protection packages to compensate for the hole at left tackle.
If Nate Thomas can hold up under pressure, it would go a long way toward sustaining the Cowboys‘ offensive rhythm and helping their push toward the playoffs. If the line falters, though, this game could expose persistent weaknesses up front.
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