Tyler Guyton reacts to Cowboys opening up left tackle competition – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com
The Cowboys coaching staff has not committed to a starting left tackle yet.
FRISCO, Texas – Before the Cowboys took the field for their third OTAs practice of 2026, head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced that Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas are in a competition for Dallas’ starting left tackle position.
Guyton, Dallas’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has started at left tackle in 21 games for the Cowboys through his first two NFL seasons. Thomas, who the Cowboys picked 204 selections later
than Guyton in the 2024 draft, started four games at left tackle in 2025. For the more experienced Guyton, being available is the biggest question he’ll have to answer as injuries have held him out of games and important time in practice.
“Tyler’s biggest thing is the consistency has not been there,” Schottenheimer said. “Very talented, maybe one of the most athletic big men I’ve ever been around with his ability to kick slide, punch, move, run. But there’s got to be more consistency, and that’s been the challenge that he’s been working extremely, extremely hard on.”
Schottenheimer added that the Cowboys are “going to make [Guyton] earn it” and that the competition is “going to get the best out of Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas.” In Guyton’s eyes, he’s approaching the competition one day at a time.
“Same equation, come to work every day, try to get better, prepare myself for the next day…” Guyton said. “There’s competition everywhere on the team. It’s a football team and everybody wants to play. Friendly competition isn’t bad. It brings the best out of people.”
Biggest Takeaways From Dallas Cowboys’ First Open Practice of OTAs – Mike Moraitis, SI.com
The Cowboys biggest free agent acquisition is currently with the rehab group.
Jalen Thompson among players rehabbing
The biggest surprise on the injury front was the status of Jalen Thompson, who was doing rehab work while the Cowboys practiced.
It isn’t clear what Thompson is dealing with, but it must not be too serious given the fact he was outside on Thursday. Thompson was joined by DaRon Bland and Donovan Ezeiruaku, both of whom were expected to be part of the rehab group.
Cowboys to hold joint practices at training camp with Rams, Saints – RJ Ochoa, Blogging the Boys
The Cowboys will hold two joint practices during training camp with the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams.
The Dallas Cowboys are set to have two different sets of joint practices this summer. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer noted on Thursday that the team will be holding joint practices once training camp begins with both the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints.
It was specified that the Cowboys will scrimmage against the Rams at their own facility as opposed to in Oxnard where the teams have met in the past. Given that the Cowboys are going to host the Saints that makes some sense.
Dallas usually hosts teams for things like this, but they have traveled before as well. In 2022 the Cowboys visited the Denver Broncos in the preseason and practiced with them beforehand.
George Pickens isn’t with Cowboys for OTAs, Schottenheimer says communication is good – Schulyer Dixon, NBC DFW
George Pickens has been absent from voluntary workouts. Will he show up for mandatory minicamp?
George Pickens isn’t with the Dallas Cowboys during the opening week of voluntary offseason practices, but coach Brian Schottenheimer says the receiver is “taking care of his business” and that their communication has been good.
Pickens signed his $27.3 million franchise tag a little more than a month ago, but has stayed away from the team. The Pro Bowler isn’t required to show up until mandatory minicamp, June 16-18.
“Communicated with (Pickens) yesterday,” Schottenheimer said Thursday. “He’s got a football camp this weekend that he’s doing. So communication is good, and as you guys know, it’s voluntary and he’s taking care of his business.”
Pickens waited two months before signing the one-year contract, which is worth three times what the 25-year-old earned on his four-year rookie contract.
Pickens told the Cowboys before the draft in April that he intended to sign the franchise tag, prompting speculation that Dallas might try to trade him. The Cowboys made it clear they had no such plans. He signed the tag about a week later.
Acquired last year in a trade with Pittsburgh, Pickens thrived alongside CeeDee Lamb, finishing with career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offenses in the NFL last season.
‘Caleb is a dog’: Cowboys are embracing sky-high expectations for rookie Caleb Downs – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
Everyone near and far believes he was the best safety in the NFL draft this spring.
Is the praise too fast, too soon?
The expectations too great?
Unfair, or right on target?
“I think expectations on all high draft picks are real,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday before an OTA practice from The Star. “They’re probably also a little bit too high. There is a transition period. There’s going to be mistakes that are made. I thought one of the greatest compliments you could give a young player is they don’t repeat mistakes.”
2 Cowboys defensive starters limited for OTAs – Matthew Lenix, Blogging the Boys
When will the Cowboys 2025 second-round pick get back to work?
The Dallas Cowboys are in the midst of their OTAs out in Frisco, Texas. Two of their most important defenders, cornerback DaRon Bland and edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, are currently rehabbing from injuries. Per Jon Machota of The Athletic, both will be limited during OTAs as the team is being cautious with their alignments.
Bland is nursing a foot injury, which is all too common when looking at his history with the Cowboys. He signed a five-year, $92 million extension last August. Bland played in 12 games, but a foot injury which requited surgery ended his season last December. This is a critical year for Bland, especially after missing 15 games over the previous two seasons. Dallas has a lot of money invested in him and he needs to be available every week in 2026.
Daily discussion question: Who do you think will be starting at left tackle in Week 1?
