Dallas Cowboys Prepare for Crucial Matchup Against Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for their primetime clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what has become a vital game for them. Their current record stands at 2-2, having barely edged out the Houston Texans in their previous outing. The team’s offense has been surprisingly average, and their defense ranks among the league’s poorest.

Thursday night presents a significant chance for the Cowboys to make an impact since they will face the winless Buccaneers. The Bucs will be without their quarterback, Baker Mayfield, making the Cowboys’ task a bit easier. Most importantly, Dallas will welcome a key player back to the fold.

On Thursday morning, NFL insider Ian Rapoport announced that the Cowboys have activated All-Pro guard Tyler Smith from injured reserve to play against the Buccaneers. Smith injured his left thumb during training camp in August and underwent surgery, leading to his placement on IR just before the regular season started. This sidelined him for at least the first four games of the season. His practice window opened on Monday, and by Wednesday, he participated fully, indicating his readiness to return to action.

Smith, the Cowboys’ first-round pick in 2022, has received three consecutive Pro Bowl selections and earned second-team All-Pro recognition in 2023. In his first four seasons, he started 63 games and is considered one of the top interior offensive linemen in the NFL.

The return of Smith is a significant boost for quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense, which includes stars like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. While their passing game remains strong, the run game has been underwhelming, averaging a mere 89.5 rushing yards per game. This places them among the league’s lowest.

Smith’s return could provide the necessary improvement, though they will face a tough challenge against the Buccaneers’ defense. Tampa Bay has allowed only 78.5 rushing yards per game, the third-fewest in the league.