Tyler Smith has yet to participate in the Dallas Cowboys’ high-powered offense this NFL season as he has been sidelined due to injury. Smith was placed on injured reserve right before the start of the 2026 NFL regular season due to a thumb injury.
Quarterback Dak Prescott has been fine without his All-Pro guard, coming off a 335-passing-yard performance on 32-for-45 completions with a touchdown. With Dallas 26th in the league in rushing yards per game at 89.5, running back Javonte Williams has to be looking forward to the return of the 6-foot-5 guard.
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Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has the Cowboys at 2-2 entering Week 5, and it appears that Smith is trending toward playing against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday.
On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter went to social media, giving promising news on Smith’s potential return for Week 5. Schefter wrote on X that Smith returned to practice for the first time since being placed on injured reserve earlier this season.
The former No. 24 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft has been a stable presence on the offensive line since being selected by president, owner and general manager Jerry Jones. The 25-year-old has started all 63 games he’s played in. The three-time Pro Bowler signed a four-year, $96 million contract with $81.2 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL at the time.
“Cowboys designated G Tyler Smith for return to practice,” Schefter wrote on X.
The Cowboys will next host the 0-4 Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium for Thursday Night Football at 8:15 p.m. ET, with coverage on Amazon Prime Video.
