The Dallas Cowboys have signed veteran guard Laken Tomlinson to their practice squad just before the 2026 NFL season begins. This addition provides depth for the team as they prepare for their upcoming opener against the New York Giants in four days. The move addresses the absence of Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith, who will start the season on injured reserve.
Tomlinson is a first-round pick from the 2015 NFL Draft with 173 career games played. He started 162 of those games for teams including the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, and Houston Texans. During the 2024 season, he started all 17 games for the Seahawks under head coach Mike Macdonald.
His career highlights include a second-team All-Pro selection in 2023 and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2021 with the 49ers.
The guard had not been on an NFL roster since the 2025 campaign ended in January. He previously played for the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens last season. It remains uncertain if he will be promoted to the active roster for Week 1, though modern rules allow practice squad players to be utilized on game days.
If he does not move up, backup interior lineman T.J. Bass is expected to step in for Smith. Reports indicate Smith's recovery period could take four to six weeks.
