The Dallas Cowboys will welcome two key players back into their lineup on Thursday Night Football. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and wide receiver Amari Cooper will both be active tonight against the New Orleans Saints after missing several games each.

Lawrence hasn't played since the first game of the season after sustaining a broken left foot in practice in September. The two-time Pro Bowler was activated from the injured reserve on Thursday. He will enhance a Cowboys defense highlighted by star rookie linebacker Micah Parsons, who was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month. Parsons said that the entire defense is very glad to welcome Lawrence back.

Cooper tested positive for COVID-19 and missed Dallas' last two games as a result. In the first nine games of the season, the four-time Pro Bowler recorded 44 catches, 583 receiving yards and five touchdowns. This game will be just the third one all season that Dallas will have their three best wide receivers — Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup — available in the same game.

Getting two of their biggest playmakers back is great news for the Cowboys. They dropped both of their previous two games and three of their last four. Still, the rest of their schedule features only one playoff team, so this week could be the start of the Cowboys' march to the NFC's top seed.