The Dallas Cowboys are getting a massive boost ahead of the team’s Week 5 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After putting in strong work in practice, All-Pro guard Tyler Smith will reportedly be activated from injured reserve in time to play Thursday night, according to NFL Network.
Smith, 25, missed the start of the 2026 regular season after undergoing surgery on his thumb in September.
When Smith initially underwent surgery, he was expected to miss between four and six weeks. He managed to hit the shorter end of that timetable, and was able to get in limited practices Monday and Tuesday before practicing in full Thursday. With his hurdles seemingly behind him, the Cowboys apparently feel good enough to send Smith straight into the fire in Week 5.
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Despite missing Smith, the Cowboys’ offense has still performed at a high level in 2026. Through four games, the team ranks second in the NFL with 122 points scored. Dak Prescott ranks seventh in passing yards and CeeDee Lamb ranks first in both receptions and receiving yards.
The team will only get stronger with Smith, assuming he’s fully recovered. Since being selected by the Cowboys in the 2022 NFL Draft, Smith has developed into one of the game’s best guards. He found stardom early in his career, making his first Pro Bowl and being voted as a second team All-Pro in just his second season. Smith also made the Pro Bowl in 2024 and 2025 and has played in at least 14 games in each of his four NFL seasons.
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With Smith back, T.J. Bass will likely move out of the starting lineup. Bass hasn’t been terrible in his four games as the team’s starter, ranking 30th at guard per PFF’s metrics, but Smith has consistently rated better over his career.
