Dallas Cowboys fans have been begging to see more of Juanyeh Thomas for years, and every time he steps in, it feels like either he’s finding the ball or the ball is finding him.

He’s physical, aggressive, and disruptive. But here’s the truth: playmaking from the safety sport is a much different beast than play making from the nickel spot.

Yes, he covers better than Donovan Wilson and plays downhill like a linebacker. But asking Thomas to replicate what Jourdan Lewis did as the league’s highest-paid slot corner seems unrealistic. The modern nickel isn’t just a third corner anymore — it’s a defensive chess piece asked to stop top receivers like CeeDee Lamb, who are being schemed into the slot more than ever.

Now, there are matchups where a bigger, more physical body like Thomas makes sense. Think downhill games against run-heavy teams. If the opposing offense doesn’t move their WR1 into the slot often, Thomas could serve as a hybrid safety-nickel in those specific looks. But those matchups are rare.

The same way the Cowboys are rotating offensive linemen like Robert Jones, Cooper Beebe, and Brock Hoffman to test versatility, this could be a similar trial run for Juanyeh Thomas.

As offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer noted, they’re “creating competition” by moving pieces around — and that likely applies on defense too. Given how thin the cornerback room is, this look at Thomas in the slot may be more about emergency preparedness than a full-on position switch.

Especially considering we already know that Daron Bland has been getting a ton of nickel reps too. And that’s a guy who’s very familiar with the position already.

So no, the Cowboys didn’t accidentally find their nickel replacement. They found another reason to keep betting on Juanyeh Thomas. But he’s not the answer at a position that now demands elite coverage traits and receiver-mirroring experience. The nickel is no longer the third-best corner. It’s the most versatile — and vital — one.