What happened: Dallas Cowboys cornerback Joey Porter Jr. fully recovered from a recent back injury, according to Albert Breer. However, an illness ruled the defender out of Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite his medical clearance.

Why it matters: The absence sidelined the recent Dallas acquisition for the primetime matchup. Tampa Bay also played without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, while the Cowboys offense welcomed back left guard Tyler Smith for his season debut following thumb surgery.

What to watch: The Cowboys will evaluate Porter's health ahead of their next regular-season game.