The injury bug wasted no time reminding the Dallas Cowboys how quickly a season can turn on its head. When Tyler Guyton went down on Monday, there were fears of a torn ACL. Fortunately, an MRI revealed only a fractured knee that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks.
Guyton will miss crucial practice time and could be sidelined for Week 1 against the Eagles, but this outcome is still a huge win for the Cowboys. While it’s no shock that Dallas has looked internally for a replacement, the real surprise is who got the first shot - and how impressive he’s been so far.
That player is 2024 seventh-rounder Nathan Thomas, who missed his entire rookie year with a knee injury but has returned with a bang in his bid for the interim starting LT job.
“He’s having a really good camp for us,” Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan about Thomas. "He has exceeded expectations. He’s serious-minded about what he’s doing out there. We do feel like we have some good players there that can certainly do the job.”
Cowboys may have a gem in 2024 seventh-round pick Nathan Thomas
It's no secret the Cowboys put a lot of stock in how players attack their rehab. Just ask Trevon Diggs. They were impressed with how Thomas fought to get back on the field. Thomas' power has stood out to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, but he also has nimble feet for a 6'5", 330-pound tackle.
In Wednesday's practice, Thomas stood his ground against camp standouts Marshawn Kneeland, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Sam Williams. Cowboys broadcaster Kyle Youmans noted that Thomas was "stout" in his reps at left tackle.
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One clip shared by Cowboys team reporter Nicole Hutchison showed the Louisiana native stonewalling Kneeland. If Thomas is able to get his hands on you, good luck getting around him.
While Thomas is the leader in the clubhouse, it's going to be an open competition. The Cowboys will also rotate 2023 fifth-round pick Asim Richards and free agent signee Hakeem Adeniji at left tackle.
Adeniji has had a really nice camp so far, though he missed Wednesday's session with an apparent concussion. It's unclear how much time Adeniji will miss, but his absence opens up more reps for Thomas.
Regardless, Thomas has seemingly aced his first test, and Cowboys fans will be watching his practice reps as closely as anyone on the roster going forward.