In a sigh of relief for Cowboys fans, Dallas has avoided a severe setback on the injury front. After a tense moment during Monday’s practice, left tackle Tyler Guyton’s MRI revealed he does not have a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Instead, he’s dealing with a bone fracture, which is projected to sideline him for four to six weeks. The good news? No surgery will be necessary.
Initially, there was concern that Guyton’s injury could have been much worse, with fears swirling around a torn ACL that could have spelled doom for his season. Fortunately, the ligament is intact, allowing him to focus on recovery rather than surgery.
Guyton took a nasty hit during a pass play in team drills. Lying on the field for an extended period while being checked out by the medical staff raised alarms among coaches and players alike. He did manage to walk off with some assistance from linebacker Micah Parsons, but the anxiety was palpable as everyone held their breath.
Credits to Guyton, who was selected 29th overall in the 2024 draft, for his impressive strides this offseason. Last year, he faced growing pains in his first season, where he played 15 games, starting 11. Yet, coming into his second year, he has shown significant improvement, according to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. “The growth he’s shown in his approach is striking,” Schottenheimer noted. “The way he’s integrating different techniques with confidence speaks volumes about his trust in our coaching staff.”
With Guyton out, the Cowboys will need to tap into their depth. Asim Richards, who started one game at left tackle last season, along with Hakeem Adeniji and rookie Ajani Cornelius, are all in the mix to step up. Adeniji brings experience from his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, though he has primarily played right tackle. With Terence Steele currently limited due to an ankle injury, Adeniji has been getting first-team reps.
Another possibility for the vacated left tackle spot could be Tyler Smith, although shifting him would come with its own challenges. Smith has made a name for himself in his own right, being named to the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons. He handled left tackle duties as a rookie when Tyron Smith faced his own injury setbacks.
This news comes in the wake of another blow to the Cowboys’ offensive line, as guard Rob Jones fractured a bone in his neck just a day prior. While Jones won’t require surgery either, he is expected to miss two to three months, which adds further pressure on the depth chart.
As the Cowboys navigate this tough stretch, the ability of players to step up will be critical to maintaining the team’s momentum as training camp progresses and the season approaches. For now, while the injury to Guyton is a setback, it’s certainly a manageable one, and Dallas will be looking to regroup and fortify its offensive line in the weeks to come.
