Following the injury to guard Tyler Smith, the Dallas Cowboys took steps to reinforce their offensive line depth. The team promoted guard Nick Leverett from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, positioning him as the backup to starter TJ Bass. Additionally, the organization signed former first-round pick Laken Tomlinson to the practice squad to provide further support.
Tomlinson, a 34-year-old offensive lineman, was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has started 162 career games and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2020. Most recently, he started seven games for the Houston Texans.
Leverett, an undrafted free agent out of Rice University in 2020, spent three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before splitting time between New England and Arizona in 2024. He was on the Arizona practice squad last season, where he worked under current Cowboys offensive coordinator Clayton Adams.
In a separate development, an annual ESPN poll of NFL executives and scouts identified Brian Schottenheimer as a candidate for the Coach of the Year award. The publication noted that the Cowboys accounted for a quarter of the award list, with safety Caleb Downs also named as the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The poll suggests that industry insiders view the team as a strong contender for the NFC East title, a significant shift from their previous 7-10 season.
ESPN writer Jeremy Fowler described the race as tight, with no runaway favorite. He highlighted Schottenheimer as a "wild card" who has performed well behind the scenes and possesses the necessary resources to succeed.
An NFC scout cited in the report predicted that quarterback Dak Prescott would have a strong year and that the defense would improve significantly, giving the team a good chance to win their division if they remain healthy.
