OXNARD, Calif. – The Dallas Cowboys caught a break with Tyler Guyton’s injury. An MRI showed that he did not tear his ACL during practice. Instead, he has a bone fracture and will be out for four to six weeks, but he won’t need surgery.
Guyton got hurt during a pass play and stayed down for a while as the medical team attended to him. Eventually, he was able to walk off the field slowly, with help from teammate Micah Parsons.
Although this is a setback for the offensive line, it could have been much worse. Guyton, the team’s first-round pick in 2024, faced challenges in his rookie season but worked hard in the offseason and showed improvements.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer praised Guyton’s growth. “He’s more confident now,” he said. “He’s trying different techniques and trusts the tools we’ve given him.”
In Guyton’s absence, the Cowboys will look to Asim Richards, who had one start at left tackle last season, and Hakeem Adeniji, who has experience from his time with the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie Ajani Cornelius is also an option. With right tackle Terence Steele dealing with an ankle issue, Adeniji has been practicing with the starters.
The team could shift left guard Tyler Smith to left tackle. He has been a Pro Bowler for the past two seasons and has experience there from his rookie year.
This isn’t the first time the Cowboys have faced injury problems. Just days before, guard Rob Jones fractured a bone in his neck. While he won’t need surgery, he’ll be sidelined for two to three months.
In recent years, the NFL has seen a rise in injuries during training camps. A study from the NFL Injury Surveillance System found that training camp injuries are becoming more common, stressing the importance of player safety. With training regimens becoming more intense, team management is under pressure to keep their players healthy. Coaches and trainers are now focusing on injury prevention techniques more than ever, highlighting the significance of proper warm-ups and conditioning.
As fans eagerly await updates, it’s clear that every player’s performance will be crucial for the Cowboys this season. The team’s depth will be tested as they navigate these challenges while trying to strengthen their roster.