The Cowboys got more than a win out of their 34-30 Week 4 victory over the Houston Texans. They also got a little closer to being whole again.
Dallas, which outlasted Houston behind CeeDee Lamb’s huge day against DeMeco Ryans’ defense, may be on the verge of welcoming back one of its most important linemen. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the team has designated guard Tyler Smith for return to practice.
“Cowboys designated guard Tyler Smith for return to practice,” Schefter wrote about the man who hasn't played yet this season.
That’s a major step for the three-time Pro Bowl guard as the Cowboys start turning their attention to October 8 and a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith’s possible return would be a boost for Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams and the rest of an offense that has already looked dangerous through the first month.
Dallas is sitting at 2-2, but the mood around the team has been moving in a better direction. Jerry Jones has backed Brian Schottenheimer with a Super Bowl take, and the offense has given him plenty to point to.
Prescott threw for 335 yards and a touchdown against the Texans, with 189 of those yards going to Lamb, who finished with 17 catches and a receiving touchdown. Williams added a rushing touchdown hat trick despite shaking off an $11,000-plus dollar fine.
If Smith gets all the way back, the Cowboys’ attack becomes even more formidable. Schottenheimer has taken his share of criticism this season, but Dallas has hardly looked like a flat 2-2 team.
The Buccaneers may have their own issues, including a Baker Mayfield injury and whispers about a possible Todd Bowles firing, but the Cowboys know they’ll get Tampa Bay’s best shot. Getting Smith back in the mix would give them a better chance to handle it.
In Other News...
Joey Porter Jr. Changed Houstons Entire Plan In Cowboys Debut
Joey Porter Jr. arrived in a Cowboys uniform for Week 4 against the Houston Texans and immediately altered the way Houston approached the passing game. The cornerback, acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers, logged 24 defensive snaps in his season and Dallas debut, and the Texans quickly showed they wanted little part of testing him in coverage.
Instead of leaning on his side, Houston largely steered its attention toward other Dallas cornerbacks, leaving Porter matched up against the Texans top receiver without a target. He was thrown at once and did not allow a completion, a small sample to be sure, but one that suggested the Cowboys may already have added a defender offenses are going to notice right away. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Let One Cowboys Receiver Take Over When It Mattered Most
CeeDee Lamb made sure the Cowboys left Houston with a win, turning a tight road game into a showcase for Dallas top pass catcher. In a 34-30 victory over the Texans, Lamb piled up 17 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown, the kind of workload that kept Dallas moving when it needed it most and helped deliver the team its second win of the season.
The volume was as striking as the production, with Lambs 17 receptions tying him for the seventh-most in a single NFL game. For a Cowboys offense still looking for consistency, the performance was a reminder of how quickly one receiver can tilt a game when the situation demands it, even if the bigger question is how often Dallas can lean on that kind of night going forward. [Read more 🡒]
CeeDee Lamb Sent A Strong Message On Brian Schottenheimer
CeeDee Lambs afternoon against the Texans already stood out as one of the biggest individual performances of his career, and the timing made it even more meaningful for a Cowboys offense that needed a lift. His 17 catches for 189 yards and the game-winning touchdown helped Dallas escape with a 34-30 victory, a result that offered a much-needed jolt after the frustration of the previous week.
Brian Schottenheimer was part of the backdrop to all of it. The Cowboys offensive coordinator had taken heat after the loss to the Ravens, but Lamb made sure his support was public once the win was in hand. For a Dallas team trying to stack good weeks together, the message mattered almost as much as the result, especially with Tampa Bay waiting on Thursday Night Football. [Read more 🡒]