The Cowboys defied the odds with their upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday night. Or was it Monday morning? That’s not an important question from the game, but others are worth considering as they may impact the upcoming schedule and perhaps the rest of the 2024 season.

Should Tyler Smith stay at left tackle?

When rookie Tyler Guyton left the game with a knee injury, Tyler Smith slid over to left tackle and T.J. Bass came in at guard. The results were less costly penalties, fewer protection breakdowns, and a solid run game. It begs the question of whether or not the Cowboys would be better off leaving Smith on the outside.

There’s no question that Guyton’s struggled so far this season. While Smith is a better guard than tackle, his experience and talent still make him an upgrade over the rookie. It arguably gives Dallas its five current best linemen on the field with Bass in the starting lineup, at least until Guyton gets more experience and improves his technique.

Perhaps during the upcoming bye week, and assuming he’s healthy, Dallas will explore using Guyton on the right side over Terence Steele. It was his college position, and it could be a better place for him to work through some things. And they may still opt to put him back in at left tackle once he’s good to go, still willing to live through the growing pains. But after how the offensive line performed once Guyton left the game, the coaches must be considering their options.

Should Brandin Cooks return with a lesser role?

There may not be a question in many minds that Jalen Tolbert should be the Cowboys’ other starting receiver going forward. He’s been more effective than Cooks all year and stepped up big in Sunday’s win. But even if that’s a foregone conclusion, just where should Cooks’ spot on the depth chart be once he gets back from injured reserve?

Less noticed in the game was that Kavontae Turpin also chipped in four catches for 50 yards on just five targets. It just feels like Dak Prescott is more comfortable and efficient targeting some of these younger receivers, and we’ve barely seen what Jalen Brooks could do with more opportunities.

Cooks was solid last year once he got healthy and found his groove with the offense, but it hasn’t been the same so far in 2024. Now that Cooks is 31 years old and has an expiring contract, Dallas may want to use him less and see if their other guys can be more effective targets. It could benefit the team now and down the road as they give future assets more experience.

What could the defense be once healthy?

Seeing what Mike Zimmer did last week without so many of his top players was impressive. Say what you want about the Steelers offense but they had more than enough talent to run the Cowboys over and Zimmer schemed up the right stuff, particularly on the defensive line, to not let that happen.

With Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, and Caelen Carson all potentially returning after the bye week, if not sooner for some, things are looking up for this side of the ball. There are still some concerns; Dallas was at mostly full strength when the Saints obliterated them in Week 2. But it seems like Zimmer has made the right adjustments and the team is getting more comfortable in his scheme. It’s exciting to think what things could be once he gets some star talent back in the mix.

As vice chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party and a proud first-generation Salvadoran American, I urge Dallas voters to support Proposition H. This important measure will eliminate the restrictive citizenship and voter registration requirements for serving on key city boards and commissions, allowing everyone who calls Dallas home the opportunity to give their time and talent to building a better city.

Dallas has long prided itself on being a “welcoming city” — a place where diversity is celebrated and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. In 2019, Dallas became the first city in Texas to earn the Certified Welcoming designation, a recognition awarded to cities that demonstrate a commitment to integrating and including immigrants and refugees into the broader community.

This prestigious honor reflects our values as Dallasites to welcome all who wish to call Dallas home and make our city a better place to live. Yet this achievement rings hollow as many of our city boards and commissions remain closed off to a significant portion of our population — residents who contribute to our city’s success but simply do not meet the restrictive requirements to be “qualified voters” or “taxpaying citizens.”

This issue strikes a personal chord with me. As the daughter of an immigrant who worked tirelessly as a seamstress, cleaned homes, cared for children and elderly neighbors, and eventually started her own small business, I’ve seen firsthand how immigrant communities contribute to a vibrant and thriving economy. My uncles — essential workers, specialized carpenters, home renovators and custom tailors — have also built their lives and careers here. The contributions of people like my family are woven into the fabric of this city.

For those who are not aware, boards and commissions are led by volunteers who freely give countless hours of their time to help improve our city. Seats on these boards and commissions often have vacant seats, and it is clear to me that by denying noncitizen residents and others who are not eligible to vote the chance to serve, we are hindering our city’s growth and success. In 2020, the city of Dallas took an important step by removing the citizenship requirement from noncharter boards and commissions.

Now it’s time to finish what was started and ensure consistency across all boards. Proposition H will extend this inclusive policy citywide, fully embracing the values that earned us the Certified Welcoming designation. It’s time to show the world how truly welcoming Dallas is.

America has always been stronger because of the hard work and passion of its immigrants. The same can be said of Dallas. Our boards and commissions are advisory bodies designed to reflect the broad and diverse perspectives of Dallas residents. By eliminating outdated barriers, such as the requirement to be a “qualified voter” or “taxpaying citizen,” we broaden our talent pool, ensuring that the needs of our entire community are heard and that we have the most qualified people in the rooms where decisions are being made.

Proposition H embodies fairness and equality. We know the strength of our democracy lies in broad participation. Passing Proposition H would send a powerful message: Dallas values the contributions of all its residents and is committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate in civic life. Just as we fight for the right of every citizen to vote, we must also fight for the right of every resident to serve. Inclusive and representative governance is crucial to the health of our city.

This November, let’s vote FOR Proposition H and take a meaningful step toward a more united, inclusive Dallas.

Jasmin Flores is the vice chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party.

Proposition H: “Shall Chapter IV, Section 5; Chapter XV, Section 3; Chapter XVI, Section 1; and Chapter XVII, Section 2 of the Dallas City Charter be amended by eliminating the requirement that members of the redistricting commission, city plan commission, civil service board, and park and recreation board be registered to vote, qualified voters, or qualified taxpaying citizens?”

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com.

Former Auburn wide receiver Seth Williams will be at practice on Wednesday with the Dallas Cowboys, according to the NFL team’s official website.

The Cowboys have signed Williams for their practice squad after he caught passes at a workout for the team with a handful of other free-agent wide receivers on Tuesday.

Williams joins Dallas after the Cowboys placed wide receiver Brandin Cooks on injured reserve last week with a knee injury.

Williams has been out of football since the Jacksonville Jaguars waived him on Aug. 25.

The Denver Broncos selected Williams in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft after he had 132 receptions for 2,214 yards and 17 touchdowns in three seasons at Auburn.

The former Paul Bryant High School standout had a 34-yard reception in two games as a rookie for the Broncos, but he has not appeared in an NFL regular-season game since.

Williams has spent the past two seasons on the Jaguars’ practice squad.

Each NFL team can have a 16-player practice squad. The members of the practice squad do everything that the members of the active roster do, but they are not eligible to play in games – with one exception. Each team is allowed to elevate up to two practice-squad members to active status for each game.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.