Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys

Injuries noted

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalen McMillan (IR) — The Buccaneers placed McMillan (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.; Josh Hayes (IR-R) — ir; Mohamed Kamara (IR) — Kamara (knee) reverted to the Buccaneers' injured reserve list Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.; Deshawn McKnight (IR) — The Buccaneers placed McKnight (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.; Rueben Bain Jr. (Questionable) — out; Anthony Nelson (Questionable) — questionable; Josiah Trotter (Questionable) — Trotter (knee) was listed as a limited participant on the Buccaneers' estimated injury report Monday, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.; Baker Mayfield (Out) — out; SirVocea Dennis (Out) — Dennis (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Dallas, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.; Ko Kieft (Questionable) — Kieft (elbow) was a limited participant in practice Tuesday.; Benjamin Morrison (Out) — Morrison (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Cowboys, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.; Antoine Winfield Jr. (Out) — The Buccaneers have ruled out Winfield (ribs) for Thursday's game against the Cowboys.; Chase McLaughlin (Questionable) — McLaughlin didn't practice Tuesday due to a right groin/hip injury.

Dallas Cowboys: Princeton Fant (IR) — ir; Matt Hennessy (IR) — ir; Kelvin Gilliam Jr. (IR) — Gilliam (triceps) reverted to Dallas' injured reserve Tuesday, Tommy Yarrish of the team's official site reports.; Marist Liufau (IR-R) — Liufau (forearm) was placed on injured reserve by the Cowboys on Sunday with a designation to return, Nick Eatman of the team's official website reports.; Devin Moore (IR-R) — ir; DJ Rogers (IR) — Rogers (knee) reverted to the Cowboys' injured-reserve list Monday, Joe Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.; Tyler Smith (IR-R) — Smith (thumb) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Buccaneers, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports.; Malik Davis (IR) — The Cowboys placed Davis (hip) on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.; DeMarvion Overshown (Out) — Overshown (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Buccaneers, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports.; P.J. Locke (IR) — The Cowboys placed Locke (foot) on injured reserve Saturday.; Cobie Durant (Out) — The Cowboys have ruled out Durant (hamstring) for Thursday's game against the Buccaneers, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports.; Jalen Thompson (IR) — The Cowboys placed Thompson (hamstring) on injured reserve Wednesday, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports.; Jonathan Bullard (IR) — The Cowboys placed Bullard (calf) on injured reserve Wednesday, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports.; Drew Shelton (Out) — Shelton (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Buccaneers, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports.; Jonathan Mingo (Questionable) — Mingo was estimated to be a nonparticipant at Wednesday's walkthrough practice due to an illness and is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Buccaneers, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports.

QUARTERBACK

• Dak Prescott is the projected starting quarterback for DAL

  7.1 Y/A

  Through 4 games in 2026, Dak Prescott threw for 1065 passing yards, completed 70% of his passes and averaged 7.1 yards per attempt. Last season over 17 games he threw for 4552 yards, completed 67.3% and averaged 7.59 yards per attempt, 30-10 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 8-1 touchdown-to-interception line is 4 games in.

• Jalon Daniels is the projected starting quarterback for TB

  4.93 Y/A

  Through 2 games in 2026, Jalon Daniels threw for 148 passing yards, completed 63.3% of his passes and averaged 4.93 yards per attempt. His 1-3 touchdown-to-interception line rounds out the current sample without turning an early-season profile into a settled one.

TRENCHES

• TB: 78.5 rushing yards allowed per game to DAL's 150.3

  71.8 YPG

  Tampa Bay has been hard to run on through four games, while Dallas has been gashed on the ground at 150.3 yards a game. Four games is a small sample and the sheet does not show who each side faced, so part of that gap could be schedule. The Dallas number is the louder signal here. For this game, the question is whether Tampa Bay leans on the run against a front that has given up yards all season.

PASS RUSH

• DAL: 1.5 sacks taken per game to TB's 4

  2.5 SACKS

  TB is at 4 sacks taken per game over 4 games; DAL is at 1.5 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 7. Last season TB was at 2.38 over 17 games and DAL at 2.38 over 17 games.

• DAL: 8.3 sack yards lost per game to TB's 18.5

  10.3 YDS

  TB is at 18.5 sack yards lost per game over 4 games; DAL is at 8.3 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 7. Last season TB was at 15.9 over 17 games and DAL at 16 over 17 games.

• TB: 1.5 sacks recorded per game to DAL's 1

  0.5 SACKS

  TB is at 1.5 sacks recorded per game over 4 games; DAL is at 1 over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 7.

PACE & SCRIPT

• DAL: 30.5 points per game to TB's 19

  11.5 PPG

  TB is at 19 points per game over 4 games; DAL is at 30.5 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 7. Last season TB was at 22.4 over 17 games and DAL at 27.7 over 17 games.

• TB @ DAL carries a 48.5 market total

  48.5

  A 48.5 total is 5 points above the slate median, so the market expects more scoring than an average game, without the shootout pricing of the slate's highest totals. The fact sheet gives no injury, weather or form details to explain why. A 5-point gap is small enough that one long scoring drive or one stalled drive can swing which side wins, so the pace of the first half matters a lot here.

• TB: 24 points allowed per game to DAL's 28

  4 PPG

  TB is at 24 points allowed per game over 4 games; DAL is at 28 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 7. Last season TB was at 24.2 over 17 games and DAL at 30.1 over 17 games.

TURNOVERS

• DAL: 0.5 turnovers committed per game to TB's 2.25

  1.75 TO

  Tampa Bay is giving the ball away 2.25 times a game while Dallas sits at 0.5, over 4 games each. Both numbers are extreme next to last season: Tampa was at 0.94 and Dallas at 1.24. Turnover rates swing hard over four games, so expect both to drift back toward those marks. A bettor pricing this game off a big Dallas turnover edge is leaning on the noisiest stat on the sheet.

• DAL: 0.25 interceptions thrown per game to TB's 1.25

  1 INT

  TB is at 1.25 interceptions thrown per game over 4 games; DAL is at 0.25 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 7. Last season TB was at 0.65 over 17 games and DAL at 0.71 over 17 games.

• DAL: 0.25 fumbles lost per game to TB's 1

  0.75 FUM

  TB is at 1 fumbles lost per game over 4 games; DAL is at 0.25 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 7. Last season TB was at 0.29 over 17 games and DAL at 0.53 over 17 games.

• TB: 1 takeaways per game to DAL's 0.5

  0.5 TO

  TB is at 1 takeaways per game over 4 games; DAL is at 0.5 over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 7.

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS

• DAL: 5.53 yards per play to TB's 4.67

  0.85 Y/P

  Dallas is gaining 5.53 yards a play to Tampa Bay's 4.67 through 4 games, with the Bucs down from 5.12 last season and the Cowboys slightly off their 5.96. In their last game Dallas hit 4 plays of 20 or more yards, led by Dak Prescott's 53-yarder to George Pickens, while Tampa Bay had 2, both from Jalon Daniels. The Cowboys look like the side more capable of flipping the field quickly at home.

RED ZONE

• DAL: 81.3% red-zone scoring rate to TB's 41.7%

  39.6 PP

  Dallas is scoring on 81.3% of red-zone trips, nearly double Tampa Bay's 41.7%, over 4 games. Last season the two were close, Dallas at 56.9% and Tampa at 54%, so this gap is mostly four-game noise in both directions. Expect Dallas to cool and Tampa to improve, which matters most for totals and touchdown props where those trips decide the number.

• TB: 45.5% red-zone scoring allowed to DAL's 73.3%

  27.9 PP

  TB is at 45.5% red-zone scoring allowed over 4 games; DAL is at 73.3% over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 7.

• DAL: 4 red-zone trips per game to TB's 3

  1 TRIPS

  TB is at 3 red-zone trips per game over 4 games; DAL is at 4 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 7. Last season TB was at 2.94 over 17 games and DAL at 3.82 over 17 games.

MISMATCH

• DAL: 1.5 sacks taken a game to TB's 4

  1.5 VS 4

  Tampa Bay's quarterback has gone down 4 times a game through four games, while Dallas has kept theirs clean at 1.5. Both teams sat at 2.38 last season, so Tampa Bay's jump is a four-game swing on top of an average line. Expect it to drift back some, but until the protection settles, Dallas gets chances at drive-killing negative plays. Think about Tampa Bay drives stalling and field position flipping.

COVERAGE

• TB: 32.7% third downs allowed to DAL's 52.3%

  19.6 PP

  Tampa Bay has allowed conversions on 32.7% of third downs over four games, while Dallas is at 52.3%. Dallas letting offenses convert more than half the time is the standout, though four games is a small sample. Tampa Bay should find room to extend drives, which ties in with the yards Dallas has allowed elsewhere.

• TB: 4.95 yards per play allowed to DAL's 6.43

  1.48 Y/P

  TB is at 4.95 yards per play allowed over 4 games; DAL is at 6.43 over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 7.

• TB: 204.3 passing yards allowed per game to DAL's 239.3

  35 YPG

  TB is at 204.3 passing yards allowed per game over 4 games; DAL is at 239.3 over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 7.

REPLACEMENT

• Baker Mayfield (QB) is out for TB

  OUT

  Tampa Bay will play at Dallas without its listed quarterback, and the report from Oct 8 gives no injury detail or timeline. Out means he will not play, so the Bucs' offense runs through whoever is next on the depth chart. Before you look at Tampa Bay's passing numbers or the total, check who is named the starter.

• SirVocea Dennis (LB) is out for TB

  OUT

  TB lists SirVocea Dennis as out on the injury report. Reported Oct 8.

• Drew Shelton (OT) is out for DAL

  OUT

  Shelton is a Cowboys offensive tackle, and a hamstring keeps him out of Thursday's game against Tampa Bay. Out means he will not play, so Dallas goes with a different tackle on the line. The sheet does not name the replacement, so the cleanest way to use this is to watch how the Cowboys protect the passer once the lineup is set.

• Joey Porter Jr. (CB) is out for DAL

  OUT

  Porter is ruled out of Thursday's home game against the Buccaneers with an illness, according to the Oct 8 report. An illness usually doesn't carry into future weeks the way a structural injury can, so this looks like a one-game absence. Dallas is also without two other corners on this report, so its secondary is thin against Tampa Bay's receivers.

• Camden Brown (WR) is out for DAL

  OUT

  Dallas lists Brown as out for Thursday's game against Tampa Bay, with no injury or timeline given in the Oct 8 report. Out means he will not play, so his targets go to the other Dallas receivers.

• Benjamin Morrison (CB) is out for TB

  OUT

  Tampa Bay lists Morrison as out for the trip to Dallas, and the Oct 8 report gives no injury detail. Out means he will not play, so the Bucs need another corner in his spot against the Dallas passing game.

• Cobie Durant (CB) is out for DAL

  OUT

  Durant is out for Dallas on Thursday, with no injury listed in the Oct 8 report. Porter is also ruled out at corner, so Dallas is down two cornerbacks against Tampa Bay. A shorthanded secondary can push you toward Tampa Bay's receiving props or the passing side of the total.

• Ajani Cornelius (OT) is out for DAL

  OUT

  DAL lists Ajani Cornelius as out on the injury report. Reported Oct 8.

• Antoine Winfield Jr. (S) is out for TB

  OUT

  TB lists Antoine Winfield Jr. as out on the injury report. Reported Oct 8.

• DeMonte Capehart (DT) is out for TB

  OUT

  TB lists DeMonte Capehart as out on the injury report. Reported Oct 8.

• DeMarvion Overshown (LB) is out for DAL

  OUT

  DAL lists DeMarvion Overshown as out on the injury report. Reported Oct 8.

• James Houston (LB) is out for DAL

  OUT

  DAL lists James Houston as out on the injury report. Reported Oct 8.

• Luke Haggard (G) is out for TB

  OUT

  TB lists Luke Haggard as out on the injury report. Reported Oct 8.

• Billy Schrauth (G) is out for TB

  OUT

  TB lists Billy Schrauth as out on the injury report. Reported Oct 8.

• Jalen McMillan (WR) is on injured reserve for TB

  IR

  The Buccaneers placed McMillan (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday. Reported Sep 30.

• Jonathan Bullard (DT) is on injured reserve for DAL

  IR

  The Cowboys placed Bullard (calf) on injured reserve Wednesday, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports. Reported Oct 1.

• Jalen Thompson (S) is on injured reserve for DAL

  IR

  The Cowboys placed Thompson (hamstring) on injured reserve Wednesday, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official site reports. Reported Sep 30.

• P.J. Locke (S) is on injured reserve for DAL

  IR

  The Cowboys placed Locke (foot) on injured reserve Saturday. Reported Sep 26.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Benjamin Morrison

  Out

  Quadricep · Did not practice · Out

• Drew Shelton

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Cobie Durant

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• SirVocea Dennis

  Out

  Ankle, Foot · Did not practice · Out

• DeMarvion Overshown

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Antoine Winfield Jr.

  Out

  Rib · Did not practice · Out

• Baker Mayfield

  Out

  Thumb · Did not practice · Out

• Jonathan Mingo

  Questionable

  Illness · Did not practice · Questionable

• Tyler Smith

  Questionable

  Thumb · Full practice · Questionable

• Anthony Nelson

  LP

  Limited practice

• Ko Kieft

  FP

  Full practice

• James Houston

  FP

  Coach's Decision · Full practice

• Malik Hooker

  FP

  Full practice

• CeeDee Lamb

  FP

  Full practice

• Joey Porter Jr.

  FP

  Illness · Full practice

• Tyler Goodson

  FP

  Full practice

• Josiah Trotter

  FP

  Full practice

• Rueben Bain Jr.

  FP

  Full practice

• Chase McLaughlin

  FP

  Full practice

• Alijah Clark

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• TB (0-4) at DAL (2-2)

  +30 PT GAP

  Tampa Bay is 0-4, but a -20 margin over four losses points to close defeats more than blowouts. Dallas is 2-2 at +10 and has split its two home games. An 0-4 team with a modest margin can be a record that undersells it, so the gap here may be smaller than the standings make it look.

• TB: 1.5 fourth-down attempts per game to DAL's 0.75

  0.75 ATT/G

  TB is at 1.5 fourth-down attempts per game over 4 games; DAL is at 0.75 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 7. Last season TB was at 1.71 over 17 games and DAL at 2.06 over 17 games.

• TB: 49.8 penalty yards per game to DAL's 64.3

  14.5 YDS

  TB is at 49.8 penalty yards per game over 4 games; DAL is at 64.3 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 7. Last season TB was at 43.4 over 17 games and DAL at 66.8 over 17 games.

• TB is on a short week

  4d vs 4d

  Tampa Bay and Dallas are both on 4 days of rest, so the calendar favors neither side. Both staffs get the same compressed week of walkthroughs and recovery, which tends to mean simpler game plans on each side.

STREAK

• TB has lost 4 straight

  L4

  Tampa Bay has not won a game yet, and four weeks in, that is a real hole. The sheet does not show who they lost to or by how much, so four games is the whole sample. Losing streaks this early tend to push a team toward taking more chances to get a result. Going into Dallas, the useful question is whether the losses were close or lopsided, because that tells you more about this spot than the 0-4 does.

AFTER GARY

• TB +8.5 → +9.5

  NOW +1

  Gary's number was 8.5; the same book now shows 9.5.