The Cowboys are getting a big piece of their offensive line back. Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith is being activated from injured reserve to play Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a source told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
It will be Smith’s season debut. He had surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb a week before the season began, and he has missed the first four games on injured reserve. He got hurt in the Cowboys’ joint practice with the New Orleans Saints. The injury left him unable to grab or punch.
The #Cowboys are activating All-Pro G Tyler Smith from Injured Reserve to play tonight against the #Bucs. A big lift.
One of the NFL’s best, Smith had thumb surgery right before the season with hopes of returning as soon as possible. After a full practice Wednesday, he’s back. https://t.co/3XQLuAy8R2
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2026
Dallas opened his practice window on Monday, and Smith says he’s ready. He’ll wear a cast on the thumb for extra protection, and he says his conditioning is fine thanks to work with the athletic training and strength staffs.
Timing matters here. T.J. Bass has filled in at left guard, and the offense has done plenty through four weeks. The Cowboys average 30.5 points per game, tied for second in the NFL. The run game is a different story, at just 3.8 yards per carry, though Javonte Williams has scored five of the team’s six rushing touchdowns.
Smith is 25 and has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons. That puts him alongside Larry Allen and Zack Martin as the only guards in franchise history with three Pro Bowl nods in their first four seasons.
