Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys had a disappointing 2025 NFL season, finishing with a 7-9-1 record and missing out on the playoffs for a second-straight year. Still, despite the Cowboys' struggles, Prescott continued to shine, earning his fourth Pro Bowl nod after completing 404-of-600 passes for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Now, Dallas has turned its attention to the offseason in hopes of returning to the postseason. The team franchise tagged Prescott's favorite target from 2025, George Pickens, ensuring his return in 2026. The Cowboys also attempted to address their pass-rushing woes by acquiring defensive end Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers, the same team they traded Micah Parsons to, in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. But another Cowboys player has also elected to return to Dallas.
T.J. Bass, after a college career at Butte and Oregon, went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft before being picked up by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. After not allowing a quarterback pressure in three preseason games during his rookie year, the guard made the initial 53-man roster, primarily serving as a backup to All-Pro Zack Martin.
Bass has remained a reliable piece on Dallas' offensive line over the last three seasons. In fact, he has appeared in 48 of a possible 51 regular-season games. And while he has served as a backup for most of his Cowboys tenure, Bass has proven to be a dependable option up front when called upon.
Following the 2025 season, Bass saw his contract with Dallas expire, becoming a restricted free agent. However, the Cowboys elected to place a second-round tender on the guard, meaning that if another team signed him, Dallas would receive a second-round pick in return. And sure enough, Bass decided to sign the tender on Tuesday, giving Prescott and the Cowboys one of their key offensive line reserves back for at least another year.
"Cowboys OL T.J. Bass has signed his second-round restricted free agent tender," NFL Network's Tom Pelissero wrote on X.
While the Cowboys have made numerous moves in hopes of returning to the playoffs this offseason, they are likely still a few pieces away from being real Super Bowl contenders.
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