The Dallas Cowboys head into Thursday Night Football with the kind of setup teams usually dream about: a short week, a struggling opponent and an 8.5-point spread in their favor. Against an 0-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team missing its starting quarterback, this has all the makings of a game Dallas should control if it handles business early.
Amazon Prime Video is carrying Thursday Night Football, and the matchup is included with a Prime membership. Fans who are not subscribed can use a 30-day free trial to watch the game.
On the radio side, local listeners in the Dallas-Fort Worth area can catch the English broadcast on KRLD-FM 105.3 The Fan with Brad Sham, Babe Laufenberg and Kristi Scales. The Spanish call will air on KVMK-FM 107.5 La Grande with Victor Villalba, Luis Perez and Carlos Nava.
The Cowboys’ injury report is longer than usual, which makes sense considering this is their third game in 12 games and they’re only four days removed from a physical battle with the Texans. Dallas listed Cobie Durant, DeMarvion Overshown and Drew Shelton as out, while Tyler Smith and Jonathan Mingo were questionable. Malik Hooker, Alijah Clark, Tyler Goodson, James Houston, CeeDee Lamb and Joey Porter Jr. were all full participants, with the latter group carrying no game status and therefore expected to play.
Smith is the name worth watching most closely. After thumb surgery before the season, he was upgraded to a full participant Wednesday after being limited Monday and Tuesday.
His 21-day practice window is now open, and the Cowboys have until 3 p.m. CT on Thursday to activate him from injured reserve.
Dallas is currently at 53 players, so a move would have to be made, and Drew Shelton could be the one sent to injured reserve. Smith’s return, though, is ultimately his call.
If he doesn’t go Thursday, the expectation is that he could be ready for next Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers.
Tampa Bay’s final injury report brings its own major issues. Baker Mayfield is out with a right thumb injury, along with Antoine Winfield, Benjamin Morrison and SirVocea Dennis. Rueben Bain Jr., Kol Kieft, Chase McLaughlin and Josiah Trotter were full participants, while Anthony Nelson was limited with an illness.
With Mayfield sidelined, the Buccaneers are expected to turn to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, who made his first start last week in a loss. Dallas has to be aware of his ability to extend plays and scramble; he ran for more than 400 yards in each of his final two seasons at Kansas.
Winfield’s absence is another major blow for Tampa Bay. He’s the leader of the secondary, the tone-setter and the last line of defense.
Even so, the Bucs still bring a top-five rushing defense into the game. That said, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys passing attack should have a chance to move the ball against this secondary.
In Other News...
Cowboys Head Into Bucs Game With One Huge Line Question
Tyler Smith could be back in the mix for Dallas just in time for a trip to Tampa Bay, a development that would give the Cowboys a major boost on the interior of their offensive line. The All-Pro guard has been working through a thumb injury, and Jerry Jones made it clear that Smiths hand will be a key part of the evaluation as the team weighs his readiness for the Buccaneers.
The timing matters because Dallas is already sorting through a crowded injury report heading into the game, with several players listed as questionable or out. Quinnen Williams also pointed to the challenge of the quick turnaround between games, which only adds to the pressure on a line that could use all the stability it can get if Smith is cleared to go. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Fans Just Got A Less Comfortable Week 5 Warning
The Week 5 matchup between the Buccaneers and Cowboys already had plenty of intrigue, but the betting market has added another wrinkle for Dallas fans. What opened as a comfortable spot for the Cowboys has turned a little tighter heading into Sunday, with the line moving away from the heavy home-edge look it had earlier in the week.
Tampa Bays side has drawn noticeable attention at DraftKings Sportsbook even with Baker Mayfield dealing with a thumb injury and not practicing, making his status feel more like a background concern than a betting driver. The shift suggests plenty of people are willing to trust the Buccaneers to stay inside the number, which leaves Dallas facing a more uncomfortable week than it first seemed. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Irvins Wild Cowboys Persona Still Says Everything About That Era
Peter Kings old story about interviewing Michael Irvin in a strip club is the kind of anecdote that instantly pulls you back to the Cowboys most combustible era. Irvin was never just another star receiver in Dallas. He was part of a larger-than-life identity that mixed swagger, production and constant attention, all while the team was trying to turn talent into championships.
The off-field chaos was never far away, either, including a 1996 incident involving police and illegal substances that became part of his legend as much as his highlights did. Even so, Irvin still finished as a five-time Pro Bowler, retired in 1999 and reached the Hall of Fame in 2007, which is why stories like Kings still land with so much force when people talk about what made those Cowboys teams different. [Read more 🡒]