THE APEX TIMES
Dallas’ offensive line battle is expanding, as Thomas has been seen taking second-team snaps at right tackle while the Cowboys’ broader effort to keep Dak Prescott protected continues.
The Dallas Cowboys’ ongoing battle along the offensive line picked up a new detail on Wednesday, with Thomas taking second-team repetitions at right tackle, according to Dallas Morning News reporter Joseph Hoyt as relayed by Yahoo Sports. That shift matters because it keeps the right side of the line in play, even as the team also continues to evaluate options for the job most associated with protecting Prescott’s blindside.
In the report’s framing, Terence Steele remains the first-team right tackle, which means Thomas is not simply auditioning for a vacancy that has fully opened. Instead, the second-team reps suggest the coaching staff is testing how Thomas looks within the current lineup while Steele holds the top spot at right tackle.
The competitive context goes beyond one position on one day. The same report notes that Thomas is also competing for a starting role intended to protect Prescott’s blindside, tying this tackle work to the broader quarterback-protection picture. For an offense built around a franchise passer, the blindside element is a central marker of how well the line can control pass-rush angles and keep the quarterback’s throwing lane clean.
Offseason line evaluations often turn on small margins, and tackle reps are especially scrutinized because of the combination of space, leverage, and assignment discipline required. A player can have value even without taking every first-team snap, particularly if a staff wants to understand communication at the line and the consistency of footwork and hand usage against different pass-rush looks.
The wrinkle here is that Thomas’ reps come specifically at right tackle, a spot that can influence how the rest of the line is formed. Even when teams are also thinking about the ultimate best protection alignment, the right tackle position is frequently where coaching staffs confirm whether a candidate can handle outside pressure, maintain lane integrity, and execute coordinated run-pass responsibilities.
Still, it would be a mistake to overread one set of repetitions. Second-team work is not a promise of a starting job, and it does not automatically indicate a permanent change in the depth chart. It does, however, show that the Cowboys are keeping multiple options live and are continuing to look for the combination that best stabilizes the passing game.
What to watch next is whether the second-team reps for Thomas persist, expand, or result in Thomas taking more first-team work over time. If the Cowboys’ tackle competition tightens, the way the staff continues to rotate snaps could become an important clue about which player they believe can most reliably handle the pass-rush threats that Prescott faces most often.
