Rueben Bain Jr. is cleared to play at Dallas after a full week of practice

Rueben Bain Jr. is cleared to play at the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. The rookie edge rusher was a full participant in practice this week and has no game designation on the Buccaneers' final Week 5 injury report, released Wednesday, October 7 (Buccaneers.com, Yahoo Sports, The Pewter Plank).

Key facts

• Rueben Bain Jr. was a full participant in practice this week and carries no game designation for Thursday's game at Dallas (Buccaneers.com, Yahoo Sports, October 7).
• Bain missed the Week 3 game against the Vikings and the Week 4 game against the Packers with groin and shoulder injuries (Buccaneers.com, October 2).
• The rookie has one tackle this season (The Pewter Plank, October 7).
• Quarterback Baker Mayfield (right thumb), safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (rib), cornerback Benjamin Morrison (quad) and linebacker SirVocea Dennis (ankle/foot) are out (Yahoo Sports, October 7).
• The Buccaneers, 0-4, play at the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, October 8, at 8:15 PM ET, 02:15 CEST on Friday, on Prime Video (Buccaneers.com).

Back after two missed games

Bain missed the Week 3 game against the Vikings and the Week 4 game against the Packers. The Buccaneers listed him with groin and shoulder injuries and ruled him out on October 2 (Buccaneers.com, Roundtable). Our earlier coverage follows the injury from the groin problem before the Vikings game to the Week 4 injury report.

Dallas would be his first game back. Through the games he has played, Bain has one tackle this season (The Pewter Plank).

Buccaneers injury report, Wednesday

Source: Yahoo Sports, October 7. Our Winfield update covers the safety, and McLaughlin's status is also settled.

What it means for the defense

Bain's return gives the Buccaneers back a first-round pick on the edge on a short week. With Winfield, Morrison and Dennis out, the defense still has holes behind the line. Nelson, who has an illness, was limited and has no designation.

On offense, Mayfield is out with the thumb injury, so rookie Jalon Daniels makes his second straight start (Yahoo Sports). Our Daniels profile has his background.

Dallas injuries

The Cowboys list cornerback Cobie Durant, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and tackle Drew Shelton as out. Guard Tyler Smith and receiver Jonathan Mingo are questionable. CeeDee Lamb (thigh) was a full participant (Yahoo Sports, The Pewter Plank).

Kickoff

The Buccaneers, 0-4, play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Thursday, October 8, at 8:15 PM ET, 02:15 CEST on Friday, October 9. The game is on Prime Video (Buccaneers.com). Our how to watch guide has the details for fans in Europe, and the depth chart shows the edge group.

For a winless team, one healthy pass rusher will not fix a roster missing its quarterback and two starters in the secondary. But Bain's return gives the defense its first-round pick back on the edge.