- Dallas will be without newly acquired cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who was ruled out because of illness.
- All-Pro guard Tyler Smith, who just came off injured reserve and practiced all week, is active and will play against the Buccaneers.
- Baker Mayfield is out for a second straight game, and the Buccaneers’ offense has to work around that absence while facing a Dallas defense that has struggled to generate pressure.
- Antoine Winfield Jr. is out with a rib fracture and is expected to miss two to four weeks, Benjamin Morrison is out with a quad injury, and SirVocea Dennis is also ruled out.
- Dallas has to replace Porter Jr. in the secondary.
- Tyler Smith’s return gives the Cowboys one more stabilizer.
Joey Porter Jr. absence, Tyler Smith return reshape Cowboys-Buccaneers matchup
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Sources & Referenced Reporting
- CBS Sports, “Joey Porter Jr. ruled out of Cowboys' Thursday night showdown with Buccaneers,” Oct. 8, 2026.
- thepewterplank.com, “Joey Porter Jr.'s surprise absence gives Buccaneers a golden opportunity against Cowboys,” Oct. 8, 2026.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, “Bucs-Cowboys Inactives | Rueben Bain Jr., Ko Kieft Return to Action,” Oct. 8, 2026.
- thepewterplank.com, “Buccaneers' matchup vs. Cowboys just got even harder with Tyler Smith injury update,” Oct. 8, 2026.
- thepewterplank.com, “Buccaneers' struggling offensive line has one more shot at redemption vs. Cowboys,” Oct. 8, 2026.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, “Buccaneers-Cowboys Injury Report Oct.7: Winfield Jr., Mayfield, Morrison and Dennis Ruled Out,” Oct. 7, 2026.
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