Cowboys first-round rookie Tyler Guyton getting baptism by fire in Week 1 matchup with Myles Garrett

Guyton credits routine and practice battles with Micah Parsons for getting him ready to face the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year

By Garrett Podell Sep 6, 2024 at 7:43 pm ET• 6 min read

FRISCO, Texas -- Starting a rookie at left tackle in Week 1 isn't the way Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy would draw it up, but that's exactly what's happening in the case of Cowboys' first-round pick Tyler Guyton against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. 

"I think clearly if you look in the coaching 101 handbook, it doesn't say 'yep, play those guys in week one. that's on page 16.' That's not in the gig," McCarthy said sarcastically on Thursday. "You definitely would like to see these guys get used to the repetition of a pro season. You've got to remember these guys are getting ready to play in their first away game, their first NFL game and really, this is in the middle of their first real week of preparation, so I do think regularity, training, how you build up to a game is very important for all players, especially your young players. So definitely, I'd prefer that they didn't play until later in the season, but then you can flip that conversation around and say 'well, why would you want the rookies playing in December and January when those are obviously very, very important games?' I just think it's the nature of our business."

However, Guyton isn't just dipping his toe into the proverbial NFL pool by starting in Week 1. He's cannon-balling in with a matchup against Browns All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

"I know Myles is going to go out there and get on Guyton a little bit," Cowboys three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons said on Wednesday. ... "Man one thing I always love about a rusher is 'how do you rush even when your rushes aren't good or you feel like you're off your game?' He's one of the more relentless. Myles, just relentless man. They don't care where they are at. Myles is like me, man, he has such a great acceleration and his power, strength, which makes him exceptional. It's like ridiculous."