Prescott leans on trust amid loss of four offensive line starters

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — When the Dallas Cowboys took the field Sunday without four of their starting offensive linemen, quarterback Dak Prescott didn’t waver. Instead, he put faith in backups and the team’s collective chemistry, a mindset born from his own experiences.

Left tackle Tyler Guyton (concussion), left guard Tyler Smith (knee), right guard Tyler Booker (ankle) and center Cooper Beebe (foot) all were ruled out, leaving Prescott with only right tackle Terence Steele from the original group.

Yet behind a makeshift line, Prescott completed 18 of 29 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns, leading Dallas to a convincing 37-22 win over the New York Jets.

“Trust in what we’ve built together”

“It’s the time that you spend together,” Prescott said when asked how he maintained confidence in the unit. “I saw this coming just on the simple fact this team knows how confident we are, what we’re capable of doing.”

Cowboys offensive coordinator and interim head coach Brian Schottenheimer echoed that sentiment, praising the “next man-up mentality” and calling the situation unprecedented in his memory.

“I can’t honestly say that I ever remember having to go in with four brand-new offensive linemen,” he said.

Prescott’s confidence — even when so many linemen were unavailable — traces to previous challenges. Having recovered from injuries in past seasons, he’s leaned on trust in the people around him and the processes that helped him rebound.

Offensive line hit hard, Dallas adapts

The Cowboys entered Week 5 already dealing with multiple injuries along the trench. Guyton’s concussion was new, while Smith’s knee issue, Booker’s ankle injury and Beebe’s foot trouble compounded existing depth concerns.

Backup linemen including Nate Thomas and Hakeem Adeniji were thrust into starting roles. The Cowboys’ ability to move forward under such duress underscored their preparation and culture.

Despite the overhaul, Dallas marched out two 90-yard scoring drives in the second quarter. Prescott connected with Jake Ferguson on one such drive, launching a 26-yard screen pass into the end zone. Javonte Williams also powered the running game, rushing for 135 yards and a touchdown and catching another.

On defense, the Cowboys applied pressure on Jets quarterback Justin Fields, sacking him five times and forcing key mistakes.

Experience shapes leadership

Prescott’s approach is rooted in history. The quarterback missed the final nine games of the 2024 season due to a hamstring tendon surgery and has spoken in previous interviews about rebuilding confidence after injury through trust in his medical staff, rehabilitation and teammates.

“He’s playing with a ton of confidence,” Schottenheimer said after Sunday’s game. In fact, some analysts viewed Prescott’s performance as MVP-level under the circumstances.

Dallas (2–2–1) bounced back from a tie with Green Bay, and now fingers remain crossed for healthier rotation along the line.

What comes next for Dallas

The Cowboys will need sustained contributions from their backups as injuries persist. The cohesion Prescott credits isn’t built overnight — it is tested now. The offensive line must hold up under pressure, and the offense must continue executing.

If injury woes ease, Dallas may revert to more familiar line configurations. Until then, the theme is adaptation and belief.

Key Takeaways:

1. Dak Prescott maintained confidence in a drastically altered offensive line, citing trust built over time.

2. Dallas’ backups performed well enough to power a 37-22 win over the Jets, even with four starters out.

3. Prescott’s past rehab and comeback experience informed his leadership in adversity.