The Dallas Cowboys have no idea whether or not their starting left tackle, Tyler Guyton, will be ready for their season opener. They’re scheduled to play the Philadelphia Eagles on September 4th. It was on July 28, during the Cowboys’ first training camp practice in Oxnard, California, that Guyton blew out his right knee. That made immediate fans worry that it was a torn ACL. After Guyton suffered major pain on a blindside hit that knocked him out of the game, the team’s head physician, Dr. Daniel Cooper, initially dreaded the worst.
A few days later she underwent an MRI. That was a huge relief for both Guyton and the organization. His ACL was still intact. Despite their incredible reunion, though, Guyton is still unsure of his return to the field.
It was a flurry of conflicting emotions,” Guyton recalled of the days after her serious injury. My journey was full of highs and lows. I made sure to keep my focus where it counts, including finding time to have regular conversations with the Lord during that dark period in my life. He continued to say that he’s prayed for forgiveness and for another chance to keep playing this season.
Cowboys’ Roster Decisions
Tyler Guyton is working his way back. At the same time, the Cowboys are hard at work finalizing their 53-man roster and making difficult decisions on a number of players. Among those decisions was the fates of Will Grier, C.J. Goodwin and Saahdiq Charles. Each of these players had guaranteed money stapled into their contracts, especially making any potential moves difficult.
Todd Archer of ESPN has been a great follow through the entire NFL and Cowboys saga. He mentioned that assembling the final roster was a difficult but rewarding process. “And it was just a huge rollercoaster,” he said. The decisions will have far-reaching effects on how the team best positions themselves as they move forward into another season filled with high expectations.
Given these roster moves, head coach Brian Schottenheimer talked about how essential offensive leadership will be. He looks to rotate another captain each week as a way to empower those players that show the best qualities of a team player and unit.
“That’s the core of your leadership of your team that’s going to be voted on by the players. It’s not going to be voted on by the coaches,” – Brian Schottenheimer
Leadership and Captains
Schottenheimer’s philosophy is a departure from the tenure of former head coach Mike McCarthy, who was opposed to naming captains for the season. Schottenheimer’s approach encourages player involvement in leadership roles, fostering a collaborative environment.
There’s a myriad of ways to do it,” he continued. “I feel it means something to me to have the ‘C’ on your chest if you’ve been voted that by your teammates.” That sentiment is indicative of the pressure and honor that comes with being selected captain of the Dallas Cowboys.
Once the final roster cuts are made, those players will receive their first opportunity to vote for their season-long captains. Schottenheimer is confident that this decision will lift the Seattle team’s camaraderie and chemistry.
Looking Ahead
So as training camp goes on, and the Philadelphia Eagles get more towards the regular season, Tyler Guyton’s future is very much up in the air. To help with his rehabilitation, he’s begun on-field resistance training. He’s deeply mortified and concerned that he’s not going to be prepared enough for Week 1.
What a huge relief it was to hear that I had not torn my ACL. We must listen,” Guyton said. I don’t think he’s that kind of guy to let calls like that slip through. His attention these days is on recovering strength and getting on the practice field as quickly as possible.
The Cowboys still seem to be preparing for a truly miserable season. Every decision they make about player health and team dynamics will contribute to whether or not they succeed. And while fans may hope for good news on Guyton’s recovery, they’d like to see a hot start against their most troublesome division rivals.
Leave a Reply