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Cowboys activate stud lineman, cut running back before ‘Thursday Night Football’ vs. Buccaneers
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- Cowboys activate stud lineman, cut running back before ‘Thursday Night Football’ vs. Buccaneers
The Dallas Cowboys are just a few hours away from taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football .
The Cowboys opened the season with a disappointing loss to the New York Giants, who surprisingly sit atop the NFC East, and then bounced back with a dominant win over the Washington Commanders. They fell again in Week 3 to the Baltimore Ravens before taking down the Houston Texans in a high-scoring affair.
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Dallas is in prime position to move to 3-2 on the season as it faces off against a Buccaneers team without quarterback Baker Mayfield. The team also received some good news leading up to kickoff.
MORE: Dak Prescott puts impressive record at risk on Thursday Night Football as Cowboys face Bucs
All-Pro returns
NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Tyler Smith (73) blocks against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Dallas welcomed star offensive lineman Tyler Smith back to the lineup on Thursday afternoon, activating him from the Reserve/Injured-Designated for Return list.
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The All-Pro left guard was forced to sit out the first four games of the 2026 season due to a thumb injury suffered in training camp that ultimately required surgery to repair, costing him the first quarter of the season.
"I just think it's a huge success," said Cowboys chief operating officer and co-owner Stephen Jones to 105.3 the Fan on Tuesday . "We were gonna hit on Javonte [Williams] and the success he's had getting the ball into the end zone, and [Smith] is a big additive to what we do in there. I love T.J. Bass, but we're talking about a guy who's an All-Pro.
"[And] a guy like Tyler Smith is gonna give you that extra second to make [plays downfield]."
By activating Smith, though, the Cowboys were forced to remove a player from the roster. Running back Emari Demercado was the unlucky party.
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