Cowboys' recent comments on Tyler Guyton and left tackle spot are just straight up odd
Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton missed last weekend's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to a neck injury. That might've been enough to spark an unexpected competition at left tackle, as second-year tackle Asim Richards looked very good stepping in for the first-round rookie and head coach Mike McCarthy didn't shy away from using […]
Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton missed last weekend's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to a neck injury.
That might've been enough to spark an unexpected competition at left tackle, as second-year tackle Asim Richards looked very good stepping in for the first-round rookie and head coach Mike McCarthy didn't shy away from using the word "competition" when talking about the left tackle spot.
"Balance is great; it's healthy," said McCarthy about the left tackle spot on Wednesday. "Healthy competition is always good, you know. Chuma (Edoga) is coming back today too, so just to see the four tackles get out there and compete, I think it'll be really good for us."
Guyton doesn't seem to be batting an eye at McCarthy's comments regarding competition, noting that it's part of playing left tackle.
"I feel like there always is a healthy competition at the left tackle spot," Guyton said earlier in the week. "It's the most premier position on the offensive line, so that's always good, I think."
Heathy or not, the comments are surprising at minimum and straight up odd at most. I understand wanting players to feel like they're competing for their jobs week in and week out, but why would the Cowboys not want Guyton to take all of the reps at left tackle for the rest of the year?
He came into the NFL as a raw, low-floor, high-upside prospect that needed reps to develop into the great tackle many thought, and still do, he could become as a pro.
The growing pains he's gone through as a rookie were always expected. Balancing winning now vs. his development for the future was always going to be an issue but now that the season is over, Guyton getting reps should be seen as one of the very few silver linings around the 2024 Cowboys. And now it's when we're questioning his starting role by talking about competition at LT?
If the Cowboys were winning while having serious questions in pass protection, it'd be a totally different conversation. You might be willing to sacrifice a player's development if you thought it'd help you win playoff games. But Dallas is 3-6 and Dak Prescott isn't returning.
It'd be wild to me if Guyton isn't starting the rest of the way. It's a no brainer choice.
