Dallas expects rookie guard Tyler Booker back in its lineup on Sunday, and that’s just in time as far as Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer is concerned.
A first-round draft pick from Alabama on April 24, Booker played every offensive snap in Dallas’ first three games this season at right guard. But he missed the past three games because of an ankle injury.
On Friday, Schottenheimer described Booker as “a big, powerful guy, very talented player. That’s one of his strong suits.”
And in Schottenheimer’s view, that’s what the Cowboys need to stand up to the Washington Commanders’ defensive front, particularly tackle Daron Payne, a former Shades Valley High School and Alabama standout.
“Big, physical front,” Schottenheimer said of the Washington defense. “A lot of love for Daron Payne as a football player and really just think he’s a hell of a player inside. But, you know, Book’s intensity and leadership is something that we kind of thrive off of, so anytime you get good players back, it definitely helps.”
Payne has 21 tackles, one sack, four tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, two pass breakups and one forced fumble this season. Only three other players meet or exceed Payne’s production on those six stats in 2025, and they are all pass-rushers – Brian Burns of the New York Giants, Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders and T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Booker carried no designation on the Cowboys’ final injury report of the week. He’s expected to return to the lineup with wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin. Lamb also missed the past three games, and Turpin missed the past two.
Schottenheimer said he’s expecting Booker to “play at a high level.”
“I love the way he’s moving around again,” Schottenheimer said. “This is a guy that’s tackled that rehab and we’re so — I mean, I think he’s a week ahead of schedule, which is great. We’ve asked him to do some different things this week both in individual and in team where, you know: Can you anchor, can you sustain, can you pull, can you move, can you do those things? And so far, it’s been check, check, check.”
The 131st meeting between Washington and Dallas kicks off at 3:25 p.m. CDT Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. FOX affiliates in Alabama are scheduled to televise the game.
The Commanders have a 3-3 record after losing to the Chicago Bears 25-24 on Monday night. Dallas has a 2-3-1 record after losing to the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday. One of the teams will have back-to-back losses for the first time this season after Sunday’s game.
