ARLINGTON. The Dallas Cowboys could have All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith back Thursday night, when Cowboys vs. Buccaneers kicks off at 7:15 p.m. at AT&T Stadium on Prime Video. Smith was a limited participant Monday and Tuesday after the team opened his 21-day return window, and coach Brian Schottenheimer says the decision is mostly up to Smith.
The matchup puts a 2-2 Dallas team that just won a 34-30 shootout in Houston against an 0-4 Tampa Bay team whose undrafted rookie quarterback makes his first road start.
Tyler Smith’s return comes down to comfort
Smith said he hurt the ligament in his left thumb in a joint practice with New Orleans on Aug. 18, during training camp in California, and kept practicing into September before the team announced surgery ahead of the opener. He has since missed the required four games on injured reserve, and T.J. Bass has started all four in his place, the Associated Press reported in a story published by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
The short week, a walkthrough and a light practice, has not given him much of a test. “To me, if Tyler feels good that he can go play, then I have no problem,†Schottenheimer said, according to the AP. “All Tyler’s got to do is say, ‘Hey Schotty, I feel good.’ And he’ll be out there.†Smith is still on injured reserve, so the team would have to activate him to the 53-man roster before kickoff.
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring) did not practice either day, and Schottenheimer called his return this week a “long shot,†per DallasCowboys.com. Cornerback Cobie Durant and rookie tackle Drew Shelton, both with hamstring injuries, also did not practice. CeeDee Lamb (thigh), Joey Porter Jr. (ankle) and Malik Hooker (forearm) practiced fully.
Tampa Bay turns to Jalon Daniels again
Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb and is expected to miss at least two more games, the Buccaneers’ team site reported Oct. 4. That ended a run of 57 straight starts, playoffs included. In his place, Jalon Daniels became the first undrafted rookie to start at quarterback for the franchise, throwing for 148 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 55 yards, with two interceptions, in a 17-14 loss to Green Bay.
“Yeah, he’ll be the quarterback Thursday night,†Todd Bowles said after that game. The Bucs are also without safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who is expected to miss two to four weeks with a slight rib fracture, and kicker Chase McLaughlin missed Tuesday’s walkthrough with a right groin and hip injury, Bucs Wire reported. Final injury reports for both teams are due Wednesday.
Cowboys vs. Buccaneers by the numbers
Never Late News built this comparison from both teams’ 2026 results on ESPN and the season rankings in the Buccaneers’ Week 5 game notes:
| Cowboys (2-2) | Buccaneers (0-4) | |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | L 28-20 at N.Y. Giants | L 33-27 at Cincinnati |
| Week 2 | W 37-20 vs. Washington | L 23-19 vs. Cleveland |
| Week 3 | L 34-31 vs. Baltimore (Rio de Janeiro) | L 23-16 vs. Minnesota |
| Week 4 | W 34-30 at Houston | L 17-14 vs. Green Bay |
| Points for / against | 122 / 112 (+10) | 76 / 96 (-20) |
| Scoring offense | 30.5 per game (2nd) | 19.0 per game (24th) |
| Scoring defense | 28.0 per game (29th) | 24.0 per game (20th) |
| Rushing | 89.5 yards per game (25th) | Defense allows 78.5 (3rd) |
Every Tampa Bay loss has been by seven points or fewer, a combined 20 points across four games. And Dallas has scored at least 31 points in three straight games while allowing at least 20 in all four.
Lamb and Prescott carry the offense
Lamb leads the NFL with 37 catches and 498 receiving yards, according to the Buccaneers’ notes, and 189 of those yards came Sunday in Houston, as Never Late News reported from that comeback. Dak Prescott has thrown for 1,065 yards and eight touchdowns. His win over the Texans tied Roger Staubach for second in franchise history with 85 regular-season victories, behind Troy Aikman’s 95, the team noted. Javonte Williams ran for three touchdowns against Houston.
The other side of the ball is the worry. The Buccaneers’ preview notes that Dallas has allowed the third-most yards and the fourth-most points in the league, with four sacks and no interceptions. Special teams need work too. Cowboys Wire reported the field goal unit is being reshuffled after miscues in back-to-back weeks, with Schottenheimer pinning the latest blocked kick on a missed assignment by Terence Steele. The Bucs’ game notes list Dallas as a 14-point favorite.
Thursday at AT&T Stadium: game-night timeline
From the Cowboys’ Know Before You Go page, with times subject to change:
| Time (CT) | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2 p.m. | Stadium parking lots open |
| 3 p.m. | East Plaza and Miller Lite House open |
| 4:30 p.m. | Early entry for fan experiences (pass required) |
| 5 p.m. | All entrances open |
| 7:15 p.m. | Kickoff (Prime Video) |
| Halftime | Crucial Catch tribute performance |
| 10:35 p.m. | Estimated end of game |
| 11:35 p.m. | Estimated stadium close |
All tickets are mobile through the Cowboys app, and PDF or screenshot tickets are not accepted. Rideshare pickup is at Lot 15 off Randol Mill Road and Web Street. The team recommends buying parking before arriving.
The Cowboys lead the regular-season series 14-6 and have won all three playoff meetings. The last regular-season game, in Arlington in December 2024, ended 26-24 after a late DaRon Bland forced fumble, according to the Buccaneers’ game preview. Bowles coached the Cowboys’ defensive backs from 2005 to 2007.
How Never Late News reported this
This preview draws on the Associated Press report by Schuyler Dixon published by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth on Oct. 7; DallasCowboys.com’s daily updates and Know Before You Go page; AT&T Stadium’s event page; the Buccaneers’ Oct. 4 Daniels report and Oct. 7 game preview, including Tuesday’s injury report and season rankings; Bucs Wire and Cowboys Wire reports on Yahoo Sports from Oct. 6 and 7; and ESPN’s 2026 schedules. Never Late News built the results comparison and computed the point totals and margins from ESPN’s scores. No original interviews were conducted for this piece.
About Never Late News: Never Late News is a US local and civic news site covering North Texas sports and entertainment with people-first reporting.