Updated October 7: Tyler Smith is questionable for the Dallas Cowboys’ Thursday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough. The left guard had limited-participation listings Monday and Tuesday as he worked back from thumb surgery.
Smith has not played this season. Named to three Pro Bowls and a second-team All-Pro choice in 2023, he had surgery on his thumb before Week 1 to address an issue he had put off, and he went on injured reserve with an initial estimate of four to six weeks. Monday’s move means that estimate is now close to being met.
Thursday return remains uncertain
Dallas opened Smith’s 21-day return-to-practice window on Monday, October 5. Wednesday’s walkthrough listing does not confirm that he will play: the questionable designation leaves his availability unresolved. Returning to practice and activation from injured reserve are separate steps; the injury report does not announce an activation.
If the Cowboys do not activate him within 21 days, he would revert to injured reserve for the rest of the season.
Why Smith matters to the offense
Fourth-year guard T.J. Bass has started in Smith’s place. The line has had trouble opening running room: in Sunday’s 34–30 comeback win at Houston, Dallas ran 25 times for 75 yards, an average of 3 yards a carry. Dallas still scored 28 points after trailing 16–6 at halftime: Javonte Williams punched in three short touchdown runs, and Dak Prescott, who threw for 335 yards, found CeeDee Lamb for the 12-yard winner with 40 seconds left. Prescott was also sacked three times.
Getting Smith back would move Bass to a reserve role and give Dallas the starting five it planned around in the summer.
What comes next
The 2–2 Cowboys host the Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, October 8, at 8:15 p.m. EDT. Preview the matchup in the Game Center and track Smith’s status on our injury report.
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