FRISCO — The Cowboys might be without starting left tackle Tyler Guyton for the second game in a row. Guyton didn’t practice on Sunday as he recovers from a high ankle sprain he suffered in the comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 23.
“He’s moving around a little bit better, but we’ll see,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said about Guyton before Sunday’s practice.
“I think it’ll be close.”
Close, but if past history is to be believed, it’s unlikely if Guyton doesn’t practice soon. The Cowboys play on Thursday in Detroit. The Cowboys will have two more practices before they travel.
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Nate Thomas, a seventh round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, started for Guyton at left tackle during the Cowboys’ 31-28 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving. He allowed one pressure, according to Pro Football Focus.
“He looked good. He looked comfortable. He looked confident,” Schottenheimer said on Sunday about Thomas’ performance against the Chiefs. “I see a player that’s really growing and feeling like, OK, I belong.”
Before Thomas took over at left tackle he actually opened a competition with Terence Steele, the team’s starting right tackle. Thomas had 19 snaps at right tackle in a Week 9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but Steele had held onto the starting role of late.
Thomas also played left tackle a lot during the preseason and in training camp while Guyton was out with a knee injury.
For Thomas, the experience is important. Schottenheimer pointed out that he missed all of his rookie season last year due to injury.
“He’s really in Year 1,” Schottenheimer said.
He then added: “We’re all very pleased nu what we see from Nate and think he’s got a very high ceiling.”
Thomas could have a chance to earn more experience at left tackle on Thursday against a Lions defense that’s ninth in the NFL in sacks.
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