The Cowboys are getting a major piece back just in time for Thursday night.
Dallas, sitting at 2-2 after edging the Houston Texans in Week 4, heads into its primetime matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needing a clean response. The offense has been uneven.
The defense has stayed near the bottom of the league. And now the Cowboys will try to steady things against a winless Bucs team that will be without Baker Mayfield.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Dallas activated All-Pro guard Tyler Smith from injured reserve on Thursday morning, making him available for the game.
Smith had been sidelined since tearing his left thumb during training camp in August and undergoing surgery before landing on IR just before the regular season. That move forced him to miss at least the first four games.
The Cowboys opened his 21-day practice window on Monday, then listed him as a full participant on Wednesday. By Thursday, he had done enough to get back on the field.
A first-round pick in 2022, Smith has already built an impressive résumé in a short time. He has earned three straight Pro Bowl selections and second-team All-Pro honors in 2023. He started 63 games over his first four seasons and remains one of the NFL’s top interior offensive linemen.
His return gives Dak Prescott and the Cowboys a much-needed lift. Dallas still has firepower through the air with Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens, but the ground game has been a problem, averaging just 89.5 rushing yards per game, one of the lowest marks in the league.
Smith’s presence should help there, even with Tampa Bay bringing one of the league’s toughest run defenses into the game. The Buccaneers have allowed the third-fewest rushing yards per game at 78.5.
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The move also sharpened the scrutiny on general manager Adam Peters, whose draft decisions have already been under the microscope beyond a few first-round hits. For a team that has gone 5-16 since its 2024 NFC Championship appearance, even a fairly routine roster move can feed the bigger question of how much long-term value Peters is actually finding on draft weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Sonny Styles Is Giving Commanders Fans Bragging Rights In This Rivalry
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Commanders Face A Big Week 5 Chance They Cannot Waste
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Jayden Daniels is poised to be part of that push, which matters given how much Washingtons attack can change when he is available. The total has also nudged downward to 43.5, but the ingredients still point to a game with enough scoring potential to matter in the NFC East race, especially if Washington can make the most of a home opportunity it really should not let slip away. [Read more 🡒]