Cowboys fall to Buccaneers — NFC East roundup

Thursday night brought a setback for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East race. Dallas fell 24-16 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, dropping to 2-3 and trailing the New York Giants (3-1) while sitting just behind the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2). The Washington Commanders remain at the bottom of the division at 1-3.

Dallas Cowboys: Loss on the field, key reinforcement up front

Despite a week of upbeat projections, Dallas couldn’t finish the job against Tampa Bay and now has three losses in its first five outings. Before kickoff, CBS Sports noted that “everything appeared to favor Dallas” heading into Thursday night’s matchup, with the Buccaneers viewed as a team searching for a breakthrough.

There was at least one major positive on the personnel front. According to Pro Football Rumors and NFL Network, the Cowboys activated standout offensive lineman Tyler Smith from injured reserve after he returned to practice earlier in the week. CBS Sports framed Smith’s return as a clear boost for both pass protection and the ground game.

On the other side of the ball, Dallas was shorthanded. CBS Sports reported that cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was ruled out for what would have been his second game with the Cowboys since being traded from Pittsburgh. To help cover the loss, the team elevated corner Reddy Steward and safety Juanyeh Thomas from the practice squad, per Pro Football Rumors.

Offensively, CBS Sports also highlighted the under-the-radar influence of wide receiver George Pickens, describing him as a piece whose ability to draw coverage is helping unlock more opportunities for CeeDee Lamb in the Cowboys’ passing concepts.

Philadelphia Eagles: Future under the microscope

The Eagles were idle on Thursday but drew plenty of national attention. CBS Sports spotlighted the Week 5 London matchup against the Jaguars as a focal point for bettors and analysts trying to determine which side holds the edge in that neutral-site setting.

In a separate Super Bowl stock report, CBS Sports wrote that the Jaguars appear to be entering peak form, while the Eagles are trending more toward a rebuild. Another CBS segment questioned whether the recent trade involving offensive lineman Cam Jurgens might be an early sign of additional roster changes in Philadelphia.

New York Giants: Center rotation in focus

For the Giants, Pro Football Rumors revisited the Week 4 situation at center. John Michael Schmitz missed Friday practice to be present for the birth of his first child, then suited up but stayed on the sideline for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. The coaching staff instead turned to backup Bryan Hudson, an indication they weren’t eager to rush Schmitz straight back into a full workload.

Washington Commanders: Crowded backfield trimmed

The Commanders, sitting at 1-3, made a move to streamline their running back room. As reported by Pro Football Rumors, Washington waived rookie back Kaytron Allen after recently bringing back Austin Ekeler and with Jeremy McNichols nearing a return from injured reserve. Rather than carry five running backs on the 53-man roster, the Commanders chose to move on from Allen to free up a spot.