The Dallas Cowboys are adjusting their roster ahead of the regular season after guard Tyler Smith was placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury that will sideline him for at least the first month. To address the resulting gap in the offensive line, the team promoted guard Nick Leverett from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster.
Leverett is expected to serve as the backup to new starter TJ Bass.
In a separate move to add depth, Dallas signed former Pro Bowl tackle Laken Tomlinson to the practice squad. The 34-year-old was a first-round pick in 2015 and has started 162 career games, including seven for the Houston Texans last season. His addition provides experienced coverage for the offensive front.
Leverett’s path to Dallas included stints with Tampa Bay, New England, and Arizona. He spent the 2024 season splitting time between New England and Arizona and was on the Cardinals' practice squad last year when current Cowboys offensive coordinator Clayton Adams was employed there.
Off the field, head coach Brian Schottenheimer received significant recognition in ESPN’s annual poll of NFL executives and scouts. Voters selected Schottenheimer as a candidate for coach of the year, a notable shift given the team’s 7-10 record last season. The selection suggests that league insiders view Dallas as a strong contender to win the NFC East this year.
An NFC scout cited in the report noted that quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to have a productive season and that the defense should show improvement. The scout added that maintaining health will be key to their success in the division. This poll result serves as validation for Schottenheimer’s work during the offseason.
