How Should the Cowboys Approach the Tyler Guyton Injury?
The Cowboys' offensive line took a major blow as second-year player Tyler Guyton suffered a bone fracture, leaving him out for four to six weeks. The former first-round pick had massive expectations entering this season after a poor rookie year. Initially, the Dallas staff feared that Guyton suffered a torn ACL, which would easily have him out for the entirety of the 2025 season, but an MRI after practice declared that it was a bone fracture. Guyton was able to walk off the field on his power, which showed his determination to get through the unfortunate injury.
Guyton's expected absence for four to six weeks puts the Cowboys in a difficult spot with how they want to manage his injury heading into the NFL season. By being out for four weeks, Guyton does have the opportunity to be “healthy” by Week One against the Eagles, and even if he misses only five weeks, he still can technically play. However, the idea of playing Guyton, fresh off an injury, against the reigning Super Bowl champions, who recorded the second most sacks in Super Bowl history, does not sound too ideal for the Cowboys. Even if Guyton needs the full six weeks for recovery, he will likely need additional time on the sidelines before returning to action. By doing this, it will allow him to acclimate and regain confidence in his leg before heading back onto the field.
Now the question for Dallas is, how do they approach Guyton's replacement? Currently, the Cowboys are considering third-year player Asim Richards as the replacement for Guyton. He has demonstrated considerable potential in his playing time. Last year, former head coach Mike McCarthy would occasionally take Guyton off the field due to either mental mistakes or poor play, allowing Richards to step in as the blindside tackle. Another route the Cowboys could take is to move All-Pro guard Tyler Smith to left tackle. Smith played at a Pro Bowl level when he had to take over tackle duties during his rookie season in 2021, replacing the injured Tyron Smith. The Cowboys have some options to replace Guyton for now, but they hope the former first-round pick can return healthy and play at the level he has been determined to prove he can play at.
