NFL Refs Ignore Cowboys Star’s Blatant Punch as Controversy Mounts Against Officials

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles have never needed a reason to blur the lines between competition and combat. But this time, things happened quickly and differently. First, it was Jalen Carter‘s spit on Dak Prescott‘s face; now the spark has come from Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton.

In the heat of a pass play, as Eagles pass rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo (Number 50) attempted to swim past him, Guyton’s right fist came forward, connecting directly with Okoronkwo’s helmet. The act was as blatant as it was brutal. As analyst JPA tweeted, “#Cowboys LT Tyler Guyton punched an #Eagles pass rusher in the helmet and did not get a penalty for it ” The immediate digital outcry was a mix of disbelief and weary acceptance.

Coach Dan Casey tweeted, “Practicing the Left Tackle with Left Hook .” This wasn’t happening in a vacuum. Just moments before, the officials had been notably vigilant. The Eagles’ Nolan Smith Jr. was flagged for taunting, and earlier in the game, Philly’s Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting. The contrast was impossible to ignore.

#Cowboys LT Tyler Guyton punched an #Eagles pass rusher in the helmet and did not get a penalty for it
pic.twitter.com/rONhY6QBhT

— JPA (@jasrifootball) September 5, 2025

The league’s own ejection protocol, as explained by officiating analyst Walt Anderson, states a foul must be “extremely objectionable, conspicuous, unnecessary, avoidable, or gratuitous” to warrant a dismissal. By that definition, a closed-fist punch to the helmet would seem to check every box. Yet, the flags stayed in the pockets, and Guyton remained in the game. As one fan said, “Should have been called. You need the chain gang back and roborefs. But they can be manipulated like humans.” 

Tyler Guyton’s Punch, a precedent, and the NFL’s disciplinary double standard

One fan quipped the same sentiment as Dan Casey, “Left Tackle with the Left Hook ”, while another demanded, “Help me out, isn’t punching an ejection in the nfl, or are the cowboys exempt?” The question hung in the air, heavy with implication.

The incident forces a look into the NFL’s often-Byzantine disciplinary process. Just days prior, Colorado’s Shilo Sanders was ejected and fined $4,669 for throwing a punch in a preseason game. During 2024’s Week 9, a series of violent headshots created a similar officiating riddle.

Chris Olave took a devastating hit from Xavier Woods that drew a flag but no ejection. Hours later, Jordan Poyer laid a similar hit on Keon Coleman, drawing only a penalty. Yet, Brian Branch was ejected for a hit on Bo Melton. The difference, according to the league, is ‘flagrancy.’ Former officiating chief Dean Blandino noted the difficulty, thinking of the Branch and Poyer hits were “very similar.”

Fans were furious, “Cowboys lineman throwing a punch mid-play and no flag—are NFL refs just blind or picking and choosing what they want to see?” For Guyton, the man at the center of the storm, the no-call was a fortunate break in a critical preseason. The 6’7”, 322-lb tackle, a first-round pick in the 2024 draft, was finally back at full strength after suffering a bone fracture in his knee during training camp. His return was vital for a Cowboys line looking to stabilize.

His college pedigree at Oklahoma was impressive, allowing 0 sacks on 355 pass-blocking snaps in his final year. But his rookie NFL season revealed room for growth, as he was ranked 139th out of 140 qualifying tackles in penalties (18). His commitment, however, was never in question. While injured, he stated, “There’s a choice…. you can either have one foot in or one foot out; and I chose to be all the way in with my team.”

In a league where every game carries immense weight, the line between a penalty and an ejection, between a fine and a free pass, can seem frustratingly arbitrary. For the Cowboys and Eagles, it’s just another chapter in a saga where the only certainty is more chaos, as the Eagles lead by 24-20, in a delayed game.

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