The Dallas Cowboys finally got the injury news they were waiting for ahead of their Thursday Night Football showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dallas is activating left guard Tyler Smith from injured reserve, clearing the path for him to start.

That’s major news for the Cowboys offense. The update was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and must be officially announced by Dallas prior to 3 p.m. CT.

Smith was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, per the team’s injury report. Still, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer and owner Jerry Jones both made it clear the decision on whether he’d play was going to be left entirely up to Smith and how comfortable he felt taking the field.

Tyler Smith’s thumb injury and why his toughness matters

Let’s back up for a second. Smith underwent thumb surgery before Week 1 because the injury didn’t allow him to play the position comfortably. Specifically, he was said to be struggling to grab, which is a major part of offensive line play.

Here’s the thing about that injury: It wasn’t new. It was present during training camp, and both the Cowboys and Smith believed he could play through it. He tried to, until the two sides decided surgery before the season was the best route.

I bring that up for a reason. If this decision was truly left up to Smith, you should know he’s one tough player. I wouldn’t have expected him to want to miss Thursday’s game if it was up to him. 

How Smith’s return lifts the entire Cowboys offensive line

Getting Smith back is huge for Dallas. This is a player who sets the tone in the running game and works with a ton of violence in the trenches. And yet, the upgrade goes beyond left guard. Returning an All-Pro like Smith to the lineup should also elevate the level of center Cooper Beebe simply by playing next to him.

To add to that, Smith will be lining up beside a much-improved version of left tackle Tyler Guyton, who is coming off an impressive performance against the Houston Texans and their fearsome pass-rushing duo. Pair the two on the left side and the Cowboys suddenly look a lot sturdier up front.

So where will we feel this return the most? If you ask me, it’s the run game.

The Cowboys have been an explosive offense through four weeks. At times, they’ve flashed real improvement on the ground, but it hasn’t been as consistent as Dallas would hope. With Smith back, that should change, and it should change quickly.

A tough Week 5 test in Tampa

The timing works out, too. The Cowboys are taking on one of the best rushing defenses in the NFL in Tampa.

That Buccaneers front includes defensive tackle Vita Vea, one of the best in the game and one of the most complete nose tackles there is. Moving Vea off the ball is no small task, and it’s exactly the kind of matchup where Smith’s physicality is needed.

Expect Tyler Smith to make a big impact, starting Thursday night in Tampa.