The Dallas Cowboys have activated Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith from injured reserve to play Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced.
To make room for Smith on the roster, the Cowboys waived running back Emari Demercado, who has been inactive the last two games.
This will be the season debut for Smith, who has been on injured reserve after having surgery last month on his left thumb. The Cowboys opened Smith's practice window Monday.
Smith said Monday he is wearing a cast on his thumb for extra protection, and his conditioning is fine thanks to the work he has done with the athletic training and strength staffs.
He had surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb a week before the season started and has missed the first four games on injured reserve. He sustained the injury in the Cowboys' joint practice against the New Orleans Saints.
Because of the injury, he was unable to grab or punch.
T.J. Bass replaced Smith at left guard. The Cowboys are averaging 30.5 points per game, tied for second in the NFL through four weeks, but they are averaging just 3.8 yards per carry in the run game. Javonte Williams, however, has scored five of the Cowboys' six rushing touchdowns.
Smith, 25, has been named to the Pro Bowl each of the past three seasons, joining Larry Allen and Zack Martin as the only guards in franchise history to appear in three Pro Bowls in their first four seasons.
ESPN's Todd Archer contributed to this report.
