Turning the page for a short week isn't easy, but it helps if you're coming off a win as the Cowboys did, thanks to a hard-fought, comeback victory down in Houston. The Cowboys evened their record to 2-2 and will host the 0-4 Bucs, who have been competitive in every game this year, but haven't managed to get over the hump.
In this short week, we'll look backwards and forwards, recapping some of the Texans' win and then preview a matchup with the Bucs, which has historically favored Dallas.
Let's look at 10 key numbers for the Cowboys and their upcoming matchup, along with some other trends that are telling the story so far on this young season.
No. 0 – DeMarvion Overshown, LB - Enters his fourth year and and started the game at middle linebacker, but suffered a hamstring injury that kept him from finishing the Week 1 game in New York. Overshown might miss some games but is not expected to go to injured reserve.
No. 1 – P.J. Locke, Safety - Signed over from the Broncos in free agency, Locke has played the first two games but suffered a foot injury in Week 2 that could sideline him for a game, if not longer.
No. 2 – Cobie Durant, CB - After four years with the Rams, Durant signed with the Cowboys in free agency. In his second game with the Cowboys, he suffered a hamstring injury that could keep him out for some time.
No. 3– George Pickens, WR - Coming off a career year in which he finished third in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,452, Pickens is playing on the franchise tag of $27.2 million and is seeking a long-term contract at the end of the season that would make him one of the league's highest-paid offensive players.
No. 4 – Dak Prescott, QB -With four TD tosses in Week 2 vs. Washington, Dak became the Cowboys' all-time leader in TD passes with 249, surpassing Tony Romo.
No. 5 – Bryan Anger, Punter - One of the most experienced players on the team, Anger is in his 15th pro season. He's a valuable member of special teams, not only as the punter but the holder for kicker Brandon Aubrey.
No. 6– Donovan Ezeiruaku, OLB - After switching to No. 6 in the offseason, Ezeiruaku was one of the highest-graded players against the Giants in Week 1, recording 10 tackles with a forced fumble.
No. 7 – Rashan Gary, OLB - Acquired this offseason in a trade with the Packers, Gary brings experienced and leadership to the defense and has been one of the key pass-rushers so far in the 2026 season.
No. 9 – KaVontae Turpin, WR/KR - One of the NFL's most dangerous kick returns, Turpin has made three Pro Bowls as a return specialist during his four seasons in the NFL. But he's also becoming a valuable receiving threat, evident by his 86-yard touchdown catch against Washington last season.
No. 11– Elijah Clark, Safety - The second-year safety recently switched into No. 11 after wearing No. 38 for his rookie season. Clark figures to add both depth at safety and on special teams.
No. 13– Caleb Downs, Safety - Making his highly-anticipated NFL debut, Downs had a sack and forced fumble, playing all over the field as the slot corner, nickel safety and deep safety at times.
No. 14– Markquese Bell, Safety - The Cowboys love Bell's versatility to play safety, linebacker and of course, special teams – making him a consistent option for the game-day roster each week.
No. 17– Brandon Aubrey, Kicker - The NFL's highest-paid kicker has already had three phenomenal seasons in the league and enters Year 4 with high expectations again. Aubrey also looks to increase his NFL record of most career field goals of 60 yards or more – currently with six.
No. 18– Jonathan Mingo, WR - After wearing No. 81 the last two years, Mingo has switched jerseys – flipping the numbers and hopefully flipping the script for his career. The second-round pick of the Panthers in 2023, Mingo had a great camp and preseason with the Cowboys and should be in line to not only play each week, but contribute on offense and special teams.
No. 16– Sam Howell, QB - The backup quarterback has been a heated debate all offseason and Howell's preseason finale performance likely helped him get the nod over Joe Milton, who is on the practice squad.
No. 19 - Ryan Flournoy, WR - The Cowboys are excited about Flournoy's upside, evident by extending his contract a year just before the start of the 2026 season.
No. 21– Caelen Carson, CB - After battling several cornerbacks for the final roster spots in the secondary, Carson stuck around once again. Carson adds experience and depth to the position.
No. 23– Ameer Speed, CB - After wearing No. 39 this offseason, Speed switched to No. 23. His size and length should give the Cowboys an added boost in the secondary and on special teams, where he played mostly to begin the 2026 season.
No. 24– Malik Hooker, Safety - Another player who switched numbers this offseason, Hooker went from No. 28 to 24. But in the first game of the season, Hooker suffered a fractured forearm injury that will keep him out a few games, but the Cowboys decided not to put him on an IR list, which would automatically keep him out four weeks.
No. 25 – Joey Porter Jr., CB - After trading for the former Steelers standout on Thursday, Porter Jr. made his Cowboys debut in Houston. He played about 25 snaps but had a key role in the win over the Texans.
No. 26– DaRon Bland, CB - The Cowboys can only hope Bland returns to the form he showed in 2023, when we set the NFL record for most pick-6 touchdowns in a season with five. Bland has had a healthy offseason and it showed with a strong training camp.
No. 28– Shavon Revel, CB - Another number change from last year, Revel moved to No. 28 this season. Revel has been the starter on the outside and recovered a fumble in Week 1 and had a key PBU vs. Washington.
No. 29– Devin Moore, CB - Technically not on the active roster, Moore is currently on IR-desginated to return. The rookie will miss the first four games at least and could return to action for the first time on Oct. 8 against the Bucs.
No. 30– Hunter Luepke, FB - Changing numbers wasn't his first choice, but after some convincing and a financial agreement with Von Miller, Luepke is now in No. 30.
No. 31– Emari Demercado, RB - A late addition to the team this offseason, Demercado was successfully claimed off waivers following the initial NFL cutdowns to 53 players. He returns to Dallas as a TCU product thrilled to help contribute alongside Javonte Williams and Malik Davis.
No. 32 – Tyler Goodson, RB
No. 33– Javonte Williams, RB - The first signing in free agency in 2025, Williams became the bell cow for the Cowboys over the course of what became a breakout season and, one year later, became the first contract extension by the Cowboys as they solidify their RB1 role with one of the best in the league.
No. 34– Jalen Thompson, Safety - Thompson made his Cowboys debut against the Giants in Week 1 and finished the game with nine tackles.
15 August 2026: Game day captains Luke Schoonmaker (86), Marist Liufau (35), Alijah Clark (38)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL preseason 17-7 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys
No. 40– Von Miller, OLB - Where does one begin here? Miller is a seven-time All-Pro, an eight-time Pro Bowler, a two-time Super Bowl champion, a former Super Bowl MVP and, amongst other things, he's a native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area (DeSoto). Miller is home, playing for his hometown team and "living the dream".
No. 41– James Houston, OLB - A pleasant surprise for the Cowboys last season, Houston arrived and did everything they hoped he'd do in his first year with the club. He has become one of the best situational pass rushers on the team and only stands to improve with Christian Parker at the helm.
No. 44– Trent Sieg, LS - Following a legend is a tall task, to say the very least. But just as you never heard the name of L.P. Ladouceur called in a game (well, once), you've also never heard Sieg's since joining the Cowboys in 2023, one of the valuable players on the roster with the power to help determine field position with every long snap.
No. 50– Shemar James, LB - Entering the second year of his NFL career, the former Gator is a tackling machine for the Cowboys, as he was at Florida. James is one of the better special teams players in Dallas who will also be looked upon to make waves on the defensive side of the ball as well.
No. 51– Nick Leverett, OL - The loss of Tyler Smith leaves the Cowboys searching for offensive line depth, but they don't have to search far. Leverett is a swing interior lineman signed for just such an occasion, activated to the 53-man roster to help ensure consistency in the trenches.
No. 52– Tyler Booker, OL- Entering his second season, Booker is the team's starting right guard and had one of the highest grades of any player Sunday against the Giants in Week 1.
No. 53– Dee Winters, LB - In dire need of figuring out their LB depth chart, and not wanting to leave NFL Draft weekend without acquiring an impact player at that position, the Cowboys made a move to trade with the San Francisco 49ers to acquire Winters who, to this point, looks like he'll be a bit of a nightmare for opposing offenses.
No. 55 – Jaishawn Barham - The rookie linebacker got his first start in Week 2, replacing the injured DeMarvion Overshown. Barham recorded a key forced fumble that led to a game-changing turnover for the Cowboys.
No. 56– Cooper Beebe, C - Enters his third season as the Cowboys' starting center.
No. 57 – Malachi Lawrence - The first-round pick made his NFL debut against the Giants and has been among the pass-rush rotation early in his rookie season.
No. 60–Tyler Guyton, T - Not many in the NFL entered training camp with as much pressure on their shoulders as did Guyton, and all the former first-round pick did was respond with the best camp of his career, and his healthiest. Guyton feels good, and plans on making sure that translates into him playing very, very well in 2026.
No. 65 – Ajani Cornelius, OL - Heading into his second year out of Oregon, the Cowboys have tried Cornelius out at guard during the preseason, where he put together some good reps.
No. 66 – T.J. Bass, OL - After placing the second-round tender on Bass earlier the offseason, Bass steps into a massive role for Dallas early in the season, starting at left guard in place of Tyler Smith.
No. 67 – Drew Shelton, OL - One of the Cowboys' three fourth-round picks from the 2026 NFL Draft, Shelton has plenty of room for growth and development at tackle and potentially guard.
No. 73 – Tyler Smith, OL - While currently on IR recovering from thumb surgery, Smith will provide a big boost to Dallas' offensive line upon his return as he seeks fourth straight Pro Bowl season.
No. 77 – Broderick Jones, OT - After trading third- and fifth-round picks for Jones after the preseason, the Cowboys made him the swing tackle for his Cowboys debut against the Giants in Week 1.
No. 78 – Terence Steele, OT - One of Dallas' iron men on the offensive line, Steele has now been challenged by the coaching staff to hold on to the starting right tackle job he's held for the most part since 2020.
No. 80 – Camden Brown, WR - The Cowboys' darling of training camp and the preseason, Brown, a UDFA out of Georgia Southern, did enough to prove himself worthy of being on the 53-man roster in one of Dallas' deepest position rooms.
No. 86 – Luke Schoonmaker, TE - After Brevyn Spann-Ford has grown into the role of the Cowboys' TE2, Schoonmaker has a lot to prove heading into his fourth season with Dallas.
No. 87 – Jake Ferguson, TE - Ferguson has become the first Cowboys tight end since Doug Cosbie in 1983 to score three TDs in the first three games of the season.
No. 88 – CeeDee Lamb, WR - Lamb has surpassed Dez Bryant for 5th on the Cowboys all-time list for receiving yards and had a huge Week 2 game vs. Washington, catching Dak's record-setting TD.
No. 89 – Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE - With a new three-year extension to show for it, Spann-Ford has earned the trust of the Cowboys' coaching staff to become an integral part of the offense for the foreseeable future.
No. 90 – Jonathan Bullard, DT - Bullard's veteran experience of 11 years in the NFL has already been noticed early in the season. But a calf injury he sustained in Rio could keep him out a few weeks.
No. 91 – Otito Ogbonnia, DT - In his first season in Dallas, Ogbonnia has been one of the more productive defensive players after three games, leading all DTs with 10 tackles.
No. 92 – Quinnen Williams, DT - Williams is one of the cornerstones of this defense and a team captain.
No. 93– Elijah Garcia, DT - He started off on the practice squad but was signed to the roster after Bullard's injury and played against the Texans in Week 4.
No. 97– Kenny Clark, DT - The veteran defensive tackle is a team captain and one of the anchors on the Cowboys D-line.
No. 99 – LT Overton, DT - In a deep defensive tackle room, Overton adds a smaller, but strong and powerful option that can line up in multiple different positions along the front.
0
The Cowboys are the only team in the NFL without an interception on defense this year. And that's on the heels of last year's team that had the fewest picks for a season in team history with just six.
1
Cowboys CB Joey Porter Jr. has gone 1,486 coverage snaps without allowing a touchdown, the longest active streak among outside cornerbacks in the NFL. It's also more than double the next-longest streak, which is 617 coverage snaps from Philadelphia's Quinyon Mitchell.
10
With an offense that is scoring more than 30 points a game, it doesn't lead to a lot of punting – and that's a good thing. But with another game of just two punts last week in Houston, the Cowboys have now gone 10 straight games without punting more than twice, the longest streak by any NFL team in the Super Bowl era. Just seven punts by Bryan Anger this year is the lowest in the league in 2026.
20
Dak Prescott is currently tied with Aaron Rodgers with the most starts on Thursday in NFL history, since QB starts were first tracked back in 1950. Prescott should surpass Rodgers on Thursday against the Bucs for his 21st start. If he can get the win, he'll have 14 Thursday wins, tying him with Tom Brady for the most in league history.
21
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is 28/39 on third down this season, with 21 of his completions going for first downs, which leads the NFL. As a whole, the Cowboys offense has converted on 51.02% of their third downs, the fourth-most in the NFL.
62
While KaVontae Turpin had a momentum-changing kick return in the third quarter of 48 yards, he quietly put together an all-around game that hasn't been done by a Cowboys player in 62 years and hasn't been accomplished in the NFL in 13 years. Turpin had 147 kick return yards, and 47 punt return yards, becoming the first Cowboys player since Mel Renfro (1964) to have at least 45 punt return and 145 kick return yards in the same game. The feat has been accomplished 49 times in the NFL, but it's the first since Jeremy Ross in 2013.
73.9
When it comes to NFC vs. NFC matchups, no team has a better winning percentage against another more than the Cowboys over the Bucs. Since the AFL-NFL merger, the Cowboys are 17-6 all-time vs. Tampa Bay in regular season games for a 73.9 winning percentage. That's the highest percentage in a series matchup with a minimum of 20 games. In fact, the Cowboys are also 3-0 in the postseason against Tampa Bay as well.
75
With 75 more receiving yards, Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb will pass Tony Hill for the third-most receiving yards in franchise history. If Lamb reaches 75 yards on Thursday against the Buccaneers, it'll mark the second straight week Lamb has moved up a spot on the franchise's all-time receiving yards leaderboard, as his 189-yard effort vs. the Texans helped him surpass Drew Pearson.
86
With one more win, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott will have the second-most regular season wins by a Cowboys quarterback with 85. Prescott is currently tied with Roger Staubach at 85, and is nine wins behind Troy Aikman's leading 94 wins.
100
CeeDee Lamb is set to play his 100th career game on Thursday. Currently, he has 7,914 receiving yards. If he can get 86 more against the Bucs, Lamb will become just the third player in NFL history to reach 8,000 yards and over 600 catches in his first 100 games, joining Antonio Brown and Julio Jones.
