The Dallas Cowboys have signed veteran guard Laken Tomlinson to their practice squad just before the start of the 2026 NFL season. This move comes as the Cowboys look to fill the void left by Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith, who will begin the season on injured reserve.
Tomlinson, a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, has played 173 games in his career, starting 162 of them with teams including the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, and Houston Texans. He started all 17 games for the Seahawks during the 2024 season under head coach Mike Macdonald.
After playing for the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens last season, Tomlinson had not been on an NFL roster since the conclusion of the 2025 campaign in January. His signing provides the Cowboys with experienced depth as they prepare for their season opener against the New York Giants in four days.
While it is not yet clear if Tomlinson will be promoted to the active roster for Week 1, the Cowboys could utilize him on game days due to modern practice squad rules. If not, backup interior lineman T.J. Bass is expected to step in for Smith during his recovery period, which could take 4-6 weeks according to reports.
