RSS Cowboys Team Notes

[Dallas Cowboys]

Why the Cowboys should consider trading Sam Williams

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Do you think there are any players the Cowboys should consider trading?

It feels like only yesterday when the Dallas Cowboys' war room was excited about the selection of Mississippi edge rusher Sam Williams. The 56th overall pick in 2022, Williams was an exciting pass-rushing prospect. He was a missile off the line of scrimmage. His ability to bend and accelerate to the quarterback made him an intriguing player that the team added to their defensive end arsenal.

Over his first two years in the league, Williams was buried behind a very deep Cowboys edge-rushing unit. He finished with the fifth-most defensive end snap counts in both 2022 and 2023. That’s because Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence were the bread and butter of the edge attack force. At the same time, Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler were productive veteran defensive linemen who had no intention of stepping aside for this young buck.

Despite being on the shorter end of playing time, Williams made the most of his opportunities. He had 10 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles in his rookie season, where he finished fifth in voting for Defensive Rookie of the Year. There was no shortage of splash plays where he was found sacking quarterbacks or bodyslamming ball carriers in the backfield. “Slam” Williams was a real thing.

Sadly, the moment a great opportunity presented itself, Williams wasn’t around to take advantage. After Armstrong and Fowler left for Washington in free agency last year, the table was set for Williams to have his breakout season. Unfortunately, a knee injury in training camp ended his season before it even started.

Williams’ recovery is going well, and he is expected to be 100% entering training camp. That’s great news for a guy who is entering a contract season as he is in the final year of his four-year rookie deal. If there is a time to shine, that time is now.

While his health is better, the young pass-rusher enters an all too familiar situation where he finds himself once again in a crowded position group. Guys like Lawrence and Chauncey Golston left in free agency this year, but the team has reloaded over the last 15 months. Starting with back-to-back seasons where the team selected edge rushers Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeiruaku, suddenly the team has a couple of young players whom they’ll want to give playing time to.

The Cowboys also addressed the position in free agency this spring before Ezeiruaku fell into their lap in the second round of the draft. The team signed two former first-round picks in free agency, Dante Fowler and Payton Turner. The addition of Fowler is particularly worth noting as he is coming off a double-digit sack season and should be a key member of the Cowboys' edge-rushing rotation.

Last season, the Cowboys were hit hard with injuries along the edge, forcing them to reach deep, relying on players like Golston and Carl Lawson. This year, they are stacked with talent, which poses the question: What does it all mean for Williams?

As it stands now, it’s going to be difficult for the team to find enough playing time for all their edge rushers. Kneeland is entering year two, and he should see the field plenty as he’s one of the better run-stopping defensive ends. Fowler is the team’s fiercest sub-package pass-rushing option, so his role should be well-defined. Williams could slide in as DE#4 in a best-case scenario, but what happens if either the rookie Ezeiruaku or the free agent Turner starts turning heads? Even with keeping a safety-net depth surplus of players, the team could find itself a little saturated at the position group if one of these new guys is showing out.

Training camp will provide more data, but if the Cowboys are in a situation where they are six players deep at defensive end with no ability to give everyone adequate playing time, they should look into reallocating their resources. Imagine a healthy Williams on full display in preseason games against third-string offensive tackles. What kind of buzz could that generate? Could they flip him for a player who could provide them a greater service at another position? Or possibly help replenish next year’s draft capital?

With a deep group filled with many young homegrown players, Williams could be the odd man out. Other factors might come into play as well. Does he have the strength to help against the run, or is he just a one-trick pony? Does he approach the game the right way for the new coaching staff, whether it’s character, mental processing, or overall effort? These are legit questions that will reveal themselves soon enough, but there’s a range of outcomes that could find Williams on the trading block as final roster cuts approach.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...d-consider-trading-sam-williams-defensive-end

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Determining the ‘jenga piece’ for the 2025 Dallas Cowboys

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

There are several players who fit the “jenga piece” criteria for the 2025 Dallas Cowboys.

An idea that interests me when talking about professional football teams and their rosters is figuring out who are the jenga pieces. This idea served as our discussion prompt here at BTB last Thursday. In case you missed that or are unaware of what a jenga piece is, here is the 101.

A popular board game (for lack of a better term) is Jenga. The rules of the game are that you have to stack wooden blocks and build as tall of a tower as you can. Once you use all of the blocks you have to remove pieces from the tower you have constructed to build your tower even higher. The trick is that you have to remove pieces carefully and ultimately make the right decision as to which ones you do want to remove so that the tower does not come tumbling down.

Relative to a football roster, we are on the hunt for which Dallas Cowboys players are the critical ones within the structure of the tower. We are talking about the players whom without the whole thing would tumble down. To be clear we are establishing right now that the position of quarterback is uniquely important and that without it the tower does not exist, so we are talking about non-quarterback options.

In terms of the 2025 version of the Dallas Cowboys there are five names that stand out.

---

Tyler Guyton​

Ultimately the answer is probably one of two people and that you can sway me in either direction depending on the day or moment. One of these two is second-year left tackle Tyler Guyton.

It makes sense to not panic over Guyton’s lack of an All-Pro first year in the NFL. For so long we were spoiled by the likes of Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin that we forgot what normal was like for even really, really good offensive line prospects. It takes time, generally speaking, to adjust to the professional level.

Understanding this, so much hinges on Guyton being the guy at left tackle in 2025. We are way past the point of considering Tyler Smith for that spot so this is sort of a situation where it is either going to work or not and the latter is not an option that we want to learn the outcome of.

Given that Guyton is charged with protecting Dak Prescott’s blind spot he holds an extreme level of importance. He is a foundational member to the team and so much of what they are going to do rests upon his shoulders.

---

CeeDee Lamb​

This is the other top option and both feel a little bit like cheating since they are extensions to and insurances around the play of the quarterback. Such is life for a team’s left tackle and top pass-catching option.

We have said forever and ever how the Cowboys not having a proper second wideout has hindered the offense (more on that in a bit). While that is true, without their top receiving option they would be up a proverbial creek. For the most part Lamb has been available for the Cowboys since they drafted him (we are somehow entering year six with him on the team) and so we haven’t quite had to learn what life without his services is like.

Can you imagine? Obviously you don’t want to and thankfully after last year’s extension drama we don’t have to. But without doing so we all understand how supremely important Lamb is to what this team is looking to accomplish.

---

Micah Parsons​

You can file this under Duh with a capital D. Micah Parsons it the best player on the Cowboys roster so without him they are nowhere near as good. If the team were ever in a situation where his future was even mildly up in the air, say with contract stuff, that they probably would want to take care of that as soon as possible. Thankfully that is not the case oops. Oops.

The reason that Parsons is a bit lower on my list is because he missed time last year, and while the team obviously was not as good without him, they did not totally fall apart. We can attribute this to a variety of things, but the main one is likely that today’s NFL is an offense-driven league and therefore your offensive superstars carry a little more worth in the terms of the discussion that we are having.

To be clear this is in no way to say that Parsons isn’t as valuable, or more valuable, than any one player. It’s just that he missed time last year and that the wheels did not fall off so that makes this conversation in this moment seem strange.

Don’t get it twisted, though. Micah Parsons is essential. Now and always. Pay the man.

---

DaRon Bland​

The situation at cornerback makes a player from this group an obvious pick.

Trevon Diggs is regarded as the top corner on the team, but DaRon Bland is more of a jenga piece in this exercise. Consider that we have some questions about Diggs at the moment. Will he be healthy? If so for how long? What is the future like for him with this team? There are some clouds there.

This exacerbates the importance of DaRon Bland. Another way to put this is that he has the highest floor of any corner on the team, and while there are other players who can raise it like if Kaiir Elam hits or Shavon Revel plays himself and is solid, the reality is that Bland is needed and sorely so.

---

Brandon Aubrey​

In looking at the comments from our discussion prompt there were a number of people who suggested kicker Brandon Aubrey. I thought about George Pickens for this spot but that just felt like repeating CeeDee Lamb.

Kicking plays a larger role than most people are willing to give credit. Given that the Cowboys arguably have the best kicker in the entire NFL on their roster, that elevates the importance and role that Aubrey plays within the team.

Aubrey’s distance and his control from downtown are specifically what put him in this conversation. You barely have to cross midfield to be in his range which increases your probability of scoring points. Without him and that luxury, the notion of scoring is more taxing (in a literal sense) on the overall operation of the team. He provides a great relief, so to speak.

Aubrey is another player on this list who is currently set to enter the final year of their contract with the Cowboys (along with Parsons there is also Bland in this overall regard) which suggests that the team has some work to do.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-guyton-micah-parsons-daron-bland-ceedee-lamb

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Dueling Cowboys 53-man roster projections heading into training camp

Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images

We are going to see a lot of 53-man roster predictions in the coming weeks.

Every year at around this time, the first 53-man roster projections pop up. And (almost) every year we dutifully chronicle those first roster projections. I usually preface these summaries with an introduction like this:

“Not to be a killjoy here, but if the past 15 years or so that I’ve been intensely following the Dallas Cowboys training camp have taught me anything, it’s that rosters are largely set before the offseason program even begins, and most of the extra players brought in are little more than sparring and training partners for the roster locks.

That is the stark reality of NFL life.

Injuries and standout performances in camp provide the opportunity for maybe a handful of players each year to work their way onto the roster, but that’s pretty much it.”

That sure sounds nice and sufficiently nonchalant to perhaps even appear insightful, but is that actually true?

To find out, I took a look at the roster projections summaries published in July of 2024 and July of 2023.

To my surprise, the panelists we assembled in 2023 (Dave Helman of Foxsports, Todd Archer of ESPN, Jon Machota of The Athletic, and Dan Rogers of Blogging The Boys) averaged just 44 players in their projections that would end up on the Week 1 roster that year. And the panelists in 2024 (Todd Archer, Jon Machota, and Mike Fisher of Cowboys Nation) came in even lower with an average of 43 players. Here’s a quick summary of the results of each of the seven panelists:

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Helman
Foxports
2023​

[/td]​

[td]

Archer
ESPN
2023​

[/td]​

[td]

Machota
Athletic
2023​

[/td]​

[td]

Rogers
BtB
2023​

[/td]​

[td]

Archer
ESPN
2024​

[/td]​

[td]

Machota
Athletic
2024​

[/td]​

[td]

Fisher
Cowboys Nation
2024​

[/td]​

[td]

Roster Projection "Hits"​

[/td]​

[td]

45​

[/td]​

[td]

44​

[/td]​

[td]

44​

[/td]​

[td]

43​

[/td]​

[td]

42​

[/td]​

[td]

44​

[/td]​

[td]

43​

[/td]​

​

There were, of course, differences in each projection that resulted in the different number of hits. For example - and you may find this hard to believe today - in 2023, then-rookie Brandon Aubrey was heading into a training camp battle with another kicker named Tristan Vizcaino, and one of our panelists picked Vizcaino over Aubrey.

But what is interesting is that in both years, eight players made the Week 1 roster that did not show up on any of the July projections. Some of them are obvious, like players acquired via trade of free agency after the start of training camp, others perhaps less so, like former late-round picks or UDFAs that either benefited from an injury to a player at the same position or played themselves onto the roster with a good training camp performance. Here’s an overview of those players and how they came to join the roster:

[td]

Source​

[/td]​

[td]

How acquired​

[/td]​

[td]

2023​

[/td]​

[td]

2024​

[/td]​

[td]

External​

[/td]​

[td]

Trade​

[/td]​

[td]

Noah Igbinoghene​

[/td]​

[td]

Jordan Phillips​

[/td]​

[td]

Trey Lance​

[/td]​

[td]

Andrew Booth​

[/td]​

[td]

Free agent​

[/td]​

[td]

- -​

[/td]​

[td]

Linval Joseph​

[/td]​

[td]

- -​

[/td]​

[td]

Nick Vigil​

[/td]​

[td]

PS signing​

[/td]​

[td]

- -​

[/td]​

[td]

Buddy Johnson​

[/td]​

[td]

Internal​

[/td]​

[td]

Draft Pick​

[/td]​

[td]

Jalen Brooks (7th, rookie)​

[/td]​

[td]

Israel Mukuamu (6th)​

[/td]​

[td]

- -​

[/td]​

[td]

Matt Waletzko (5th)​

[/td]​

[td]

UDFA​

[/td]​

[td]

Juanyeh Thomas​

[/td]​

[td]

Tyrus Wheat​

[/td]​

[td]

Rico Dowdle​

[/td]​

[td]

- -​

[/td]​

[td]

Hunter Luepke (Rookie)​

[/td]​

[td]

- -​

[/td]​

[td]

T.J. Bass (Rookie)​

[/td]​

[td]

- -​

[/td]​

[td]

Brock Hoffmann​

[/td]​

[td]

- -​

[/td]​

​

So now we know that rosters might not be quite as set as they may appear; the Cowboys can still bring in new players, and there may be down-roster players who’ll play themselves onto a spot on the 53-mn roster. Keep that in mind as you review the dueling roster projections by Jon Machota of The Athletic and Joseph Hoyt of the DMN below.

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Machota
The Athletic​

[/td]​

[td]

Hoyt
DMN​

[/td]​

[td]

Quarterbacks​

[/td]​

[td]

Prescott​

[/td]​

[td]

Prescott​

[/td]​

[td]

Milton​

[/td]​

[td]

Milton​

[/td]​

[td]

Running
Backs​

[/td]​

[td]

Williams​

[/td]​

[td]

Williams​

[/td]​

[td]

Sanders​

[/td]​

[td]

Sanders​

[/td]​

[td]

Blue​

[/td]​

[td]

Blue​

[/td]​

[td]

Mafah​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Luepke​

[/td]​

[td]

Luepke​

[/td]​

[td]

Wide
Receivers​

[/td]​

[td]

Lamb​

[/td]​

[td]

Lamb​

[/td]​

[td]

Pickens​

[/td]​

[td]

Pickens​

[/td]​

[td]

Tolbert​

[/td]​

[td]

Tolbert​

[/td]​

[td]

Turpin​

[/td]​

[td]

Turpin​

[/td]​

[td]

Mingo​

[/td]​

[td]

Mingo​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Brooks​

[/td]​

[td]

Tight
Ends​

[/td]​

[td]

Ferguson​

[/td]​

[td]

Ferguson​

[/td]​

[td]

Schoonmaker​

[/td]​

[td]

Schoonmaker​

[/td]​

[td]

Spann-Ford​

[/td]​

[td]

Spann-Ford​

[/td]​

[td]

Offensive
Line​

[/td]​

[td]

Guyton​

[/td]​

[td]

Guyton​

[/td]​

[td]

T. Smith​

[/td]​

[td]

T. Smith​

[/td]​

[td]

Beebe​

[/td]​

[td]

Beebe​

[/td]​

[td]

Booker​

[/td]​

[td]

Booker​

[/td]​

[td]

Steele​

[/td]​

[td]

Steele​

[/td]​

[td]

Hoffman​

[/td]​

[td]

Hoffmann​

[/td]​

[td]

Richards​

[/td]​

[td]

Richards​

[/td]​

[td]

Thomas​

[/td]​

[td]

Thomas​

[/td]​

[td]

Jones​

[/td]​

[td]

Bass​

[/td]​

[td]

Cornelius​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

​

Machota and Hoyt are largely aligned on offense, with some differences on the number of players the Cowboys will carry at WR, RB, and OL. Is this the chance for downroster guys like Ryan Flournoy or maybe John Stevens to make a push for a roster spot?

Not a lot of surprises on defense either:

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

Machota
The Athletic​

[/td]​

[td]

Hoyt
DMN​

[/td]​

[td]

Defensive
Ends​

[/td]​

[td]

Parsons​

[/td]​

[td]

Parsons​

[/td]​

[td]

Fowler​

[/td]​

[td]

Fowler​

[/td]​

[td]

Williams​

[/td]​

[td]

Williams​

[/td]​

[td]

Kneeland​

[/td]​

[td]

Kneeland​

[/td]​

[td]

Ezeiruaku​

[/td]​

[td]

Ezeiruaku​

[/td]​

[td]

Turner​

[/td]​

[td]

Turner​

[/td]​

[td]

Defensive
Tackles​

[/td]​

[td]

Odighizuwa​

[/td]​

[td]

Odighizuwa​

[/td]​

[td]

Solomon​

[/td]​

[td]

Solomon​

[/td]​

[td]

M. Smith​

[/td]​

[td]

M. Smith​

[/td]​

[td]

Toia​

[/td]​

[td]

Toia​

[/td]​

[td]

Linebackers​

[/td]​

[td]

Liufau​

[/td]​

[td]

Liufau​

[/td]​

[td]

Murray​

[/td]​

[td]

Murray​

[/td]​

[td]

Sanborn​

[/td]​

[td]

Sanborn​

[/td]​

[td]

James​

[/td]​

[td]

James​

[/td]​

[td]

D. Clark​

[/td]​

[td]

Johnson​

[/td]​

[td]

Cornerbacks​

[/td]​

[td]

Bland​

[/td]​

[td]

Bland​

[/td]​

[td]

Elam​

[/td]​

[td]

Elam​

[/td]​

[td]

Revel​

[/td]​

[td]

Revel​

[/td]​

[td]

Carson​

[/td]​

[td]

Carson​

[/td]​

[td]

Mukuamu​

[/td]​

[td]

Mukuamu​

[/td]​

[td]

*CB not on roster​

[/td]​

[td]

Goodwin​

[/td]​

[td]

Safeties​

[/td]​

[td]

Hooker​

[/td]​

[td]

Hooker​

[/td]​

[td]

D. Wilson​

[/td]​

[td]

D. Wilson​

[/td]​

[td]

Bell​

[/td]​

[td]

Bell​

[/td]​

[td]

J. Thomas​

[/td]​

[td]

J. Thomas​

[/td]​

[td]

​

[/td]​

[td]

A. Clark​

[/td]​

[td]

Specialists​

[/td]​

[td]

Aubrey (K)​

[/td]​

[td]

Aubrey (K)​

[/td]​

[td]

Anger (P)​

[/td]​

[td]

Anger (P)​

[/td]​

[td]

Sieg (LS)​

[/td]​

[td]

Sieg (LS)​

[/td]​

​

As far as projections go, these two have probably summarized the general sentiment about the roster pretty well at this point of the offseason.

Suspensions (knock on wood), trades, injuries (knock on wood three times), and other things of that nature (knock on wood vigorously) tend to disrupt these projections. But that’s also where depth guys then get to step up and seize their opportunity.

What’s your take on the two projections above, and where do you think they got it wrong?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...ining-camp-player-additions-trade-free-agents

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys survey: Predicting the season with training camp roster

Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

How many wins do you think the Cowboys will finish this season with?

We’ve almost made it. The vast void of the offseason is quickly coming to a close. In a week, the Dallas Cowboys will be in Oxnard, California opening training camp and pushing the 2025 season on to the stage.

At this point, we have a pretty good idea of who will be on the roster. Sure, changes will be made around the edges, but the bulk of the 2025 team is already signed.

Given that, we thought it would be a good time to read the room on expectations for the Cowboys 2025 season. A lot has changed since those early weeks of the offseason when Jerry Jones was still negotiating with Mike McCarthy for a return.

Since then, we have seen the Cowboys turn to Brian Schottenheimer as a head coach and many Cowboys fans have been pleasantly surprised about his early work as head coach. The Cowboys also made an effort in free agency, made some trades that included the big one for George Pickens, and they had a pretty good draft.

We have also learned that Dak Prescott is fully recovered from injury and will be a full-go at training camp. And we also know their schedule of who, when and where they will play.

Now that we are on the precipice of training camp, we wanted your opinion on how many games the Cowboys will win this year.

Vote in the poll then hit the comments.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Dallas Cowboys fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...dicting-season-win-total-training-camp-roster

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

3 biggest surprises from Cowboys roster moves

A lot has happened in the last few days, leaving the Cowboys with a very current version of a 53-man roster. From cuts to injury designations to even a trade, which of Dallas’ various moves were the most surprising? And are any of them only a temporary stunner?

OL Asim Richards traded​

The Cowboys were able to get a little something for a player they were supposedly going to cut. And when we say “a little something,” it’s about as small as it gets. Dallas sent Richards and a 2028 seventh-round pick to New Orleans in exchange for the Saints’ sixth-round pick that year. So yeah, it’ll be three years before we reap the benefit of the move; the phrase “better than nothing” being stretched to its absolute limit.

In a media session just after Tuesday’s cut deadline, Brian Schottenheimer said Richards was traded because he wasn’t going to make the roster. The 2023 fifth-rounder was passed by Nathan Thomas as the team’s backup left tackle, making him vulnerable. But given Dallas’ current state at the position, it’s surprising that they wouldn’t hang on to Richards for at least a couple more weeks.

Starting LT Tyler Guyton has made great strides towards returning from a training camp knee injury, including returning to limited practice on Monday. But while he maintains that he’ll play next Thursday night in Philadelphia, the team hasn’t confirmed that. Asking Guyton to travel and play after about a month’s absence, and especially in such a crucial game, may be too much.

If Guyton is inactive for Week 1, Thomas is the starting left tackle. Richards would have been his backup based on experience and where guys have been deployed during practices and preseason games this summer. Other reserve tackles like the released Hakeem Adeniji and rookie Ajani Cornelius had been focused on the right side, backing up Terence Steele.

Now, if Guyton’s out and something happens to Thomas, the Cowboys would have to choose between sliding LG Tyler Smith over to tackle or inserting the rookie Cornelius. If they move Smith, you’d probably have T.J. Bass or Brock Hoffman stepping in at guard. It’s hardly ideal to have so many moving parts, but that’s the risk Dallas could be running without Richards. Hopefully, the fact that they were willing to do it is a sign that they’re confident in Guyton’s return.

DB Israel Mukuamu released​

This one was a head-scratcher, but perhaps only for a short time. After a reportedly strong spring and summer in practices, the fifth-year veteran was part of the final cuts. But Mukuamu is not subject to waivers, so this could just be a short-term move as they’ll soon move Caelen Carson to injured reserve.

Dallas has a few cut veterans expected to get reemployed soon. Special teamer C.J. Goodwin is one of them, as usual, as is OT Hakeem Adeniji. The Cowboys are expected to place Carson and RB Phil Mafah on IR shortly, making them eligible to return after at least four games, then re-sign two of the guys they just released. Many are assuming that Goodwin and Adeniji will be the two.

What if there’s a third guy headed to IR? You never know when an “injury” can suddenly rear its head during cut week. In that case, Mukuamu would make a lot of sense to be brought back. You already need a fifth cornerback after losing Carson, because Goodwin doesn’t really qualify anymore. Mukuamu also gives you a fifth body at safety and is a special teamer, so good value all around.

If that happens, the move becomes far less surprising. But if this is truly the end of Mukuamu’s run in Dallas, it’s a surprise that he didn’t make it over Andrew Booth. Not only has he been a seemingly better player in his limited opportunities, but he fills spots on multiple depth charts. Still, Booth seems to be ascending in the eyes of the coaches, and is a more traditional player at cornerback. Hopefully, we see the same thing if he plays any significant reps in 2025.

Six defensive ends​

It was great to see James Houston, one of the top performers of August, get his deserved spot on the roster. But the surprise is that Dallas didn’t drop or trade anyone else to do it, and is now carrying six defensive ends. That’s an unusually long depth chart, especially considering that five of them are mainly pass rushers. But it may tell us something about the future of one of the other DEs.

One possibility is that the Cowboys are actively trying to trade Sam Williams, who has just one year left on his rookie contract. He won’t have great value after a missed season with a torn ACL, but Williams was once a second-round pick. If another team has a surplus at RB, OL, or DT and could use a pass rusher, perhaps a deal gets made in the coming days.

Another, and far scarier, possibility is that this has to do with the potential absence of Micah Parsons. Whether it be due to a holdout or health, or an even crazier scenario where he’s traded, Parsons still isn’t a sure thing for Week 1. We’d still expect Dante Fowler and Donovan Ezeiruaku to get heavy work in that case, but Houston and Williams suddenly become much more important.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal.../3-biggest-surprises-roster-moves-cuts-53-man

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Wednesday Discussion: What surprised you about the 53-man roster?

The Dallas Cowboys set their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday and we now officially know what the group who is headed into the regular season will look like.

Dallas Cowboys 2025 official 53-man roster: Full list of finalized group

It should be noted that the “official” group will change a bit in the coming days as the Cowboys apply appropriate designations, but for the most part this is it. These players will either deliver the ring to Mordor or The Drought™ will officially reach 30 years in length.

For today’s discussion here on the site we wanted to see what part of it all caught you most by surprise. Maybe it was the inclusion of a certain player, the omission of another or something else entirely.

What would you say was your biggest surprise from it? You can go in any direction you’d like here and the more interesting, the better.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...dallas-cowboys-message-board-roster-surprises

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

2025 Dallas Cowboys Practice Squad tracker: Traeshon Holden, Will Grier among names

The Dallas Cowboys set their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday afternoon and it will undergo a few changes before things are fully finalized and ready for them to begin their Week 1 preparation. Next Thursday will be here before we know it.

While the Cowboys have a final (ongoing) 53-man roster they also have to put together a practice squad.

Some FAQ topics answered regarding an NFL practice squad:

• NFL teams are allowed to have 16 players and can carry a 17th if the extra is from the league’s International Pathway Program.
• A maximum of six players on the squad can have had NFL experience.
• Each Tuesday of the season the league can “protect” four of them so that they cannot be poached.
• Every week the Cowboys (or any NFL team) can promote two players from the squad to their active roster but only three times maximum. Beyond that the player must be a member of the active roster.

This post from Hogs Haven covers some of the NFL’s practice squad details more in depth if you are curious.

2025 Dallas Cowboys Practice Squad

• Earnest Brown (via Joe Hoyt)
• C.J. Goodwin (via Joe Hoyt)
• Traeshon Holden (via Calvin Watkins)
• Jalen Brooks (via Jeremy Fowler)
• Justin Barron (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Saahdiq Charles (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Geron Christian (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Alijah Clark (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Jalen Cropper (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Malik Davis (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Rivaldo Fairweather (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Princeton Fant (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Will Grier (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Kemon Hall (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Buddy Johnson (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Robert Rochelle (via Dallas Cowboys)
• Dayo Odeleye (via Aaron Wilson) International Player

Last Updated: Wednesday, August 27th at 2:30pm CT

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...71/2025-dallas-cowboys-practice-squad-tracker

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys waiver wire roundup: Dallas adds two, loses one to a claim

The NFL has processed and announced all waiver claims associated with Tuesday’s cut deadline. The Dallas Cowboys have added two new players, but also saw one of their own cuts get picked up by another team. Here’s a rundown of the latest roster news.

With the 12th spot in the waiver order, which is based on the 2025 draft order until Week 4 of the regular season, Dallas was awarded claims on two cornerbacks: Trikweze Bridges and Reddy Steward. Bridges was a seventh-round pick last April by the Chargers, and Steward spent this offseason with Vikings. Perhaps more relevant for him, Steward was an undrafted free agent in 2024 with the Bears, where he worked for Dallas’ new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as a member of the practice squad.

Dallas Cowboys waiver claims: DB Trikweze Bridges (from the Chargers), DB Reddy Steward (from the Vikings)

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 27, 2025

These two additions require Dallas to open up two of its 53 roster spots. It is expected that RB Phil Mafah and CB Caelen Carson will soon be placed on injured reserve, which would cover those needs. But that also means two fewer spots for some of the veterans who were released yesterday. A few we thought might rejoin the roster within 48 hours, like C.J. Goodwin or Hakeem Adeniji, may be on the practice squad a while longer.

Also, by adding two corners, one has to wonder if this is bad news for Andrew Booth or Zion Childress at the bottom of that depth chart.

One player that the Cowboys won’t be able to get to the practice squad is DE Tyrus Wheat, who was claimed by the Detroit Lions. A solid reserve pass rusher and strong special teams guy, Wheat’s roster spot was lost to newcomer James Houston. Dallas had to go long at DE, keeping six, even to hang on to Houston.

First #Cowboys waiver wire casualty:

DE Tyrus Wheat has been claimed on waivers by the Detroit Lions. Solid special teams player in Dallas for two years after going undrafted in 2023.

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) August 27, 2025

Wheat was the only waived player from the Cowboys’ final cuts to be claimed, meaning fan favorites like WR Traeshon Holden, LB Justin Barron, DB Alijah Clark, and others are now eligible for the team’s practice squad. Holden is reportedly already there, and the final list should be released soon.

WR Traeshon Holden will sign to the Cowboys practice squad.

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 27, 2025

We’re still far from done in finalizing the actual Week 1 roster, but this is another big step on the way. We’ll see how the arrivals of Bridges and Steward impact the current 53, and if any more signings or trades are in store in the coming days. With Dallas opening its season next Thursday night, they’ll be less likely to make changes soon as we’ll already be just a week out from kickoff.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...allas-adds-two-loses-one-claim-practice-squad

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Mazi Smith surviving roster cuts shouldn’t have surprised anyone

While the dust is still settling from the Dallas Cowboys’ roster moves, one decision that appears etched in 2025 stone is the return of defensive tackle Mazi Smith. This has drawn criticism throughout sectors of Cowboys Nation, but should it really have come as a surprise? Smith being a former first-round pick does matter, and the team’s history of dealing with them shows how this third season should’ve never really been in doubt.

Frustration with where Smith is at this point in his career is natural and appropriate. Rest assured, the front office and coaching staff share it. But even with an overhauled defensive staff under Matt Eberflus, the notion that Smith might not make the roster ahead of just his third NFL season was shaky at best. When we discussed the biggest surprises from Dallas’ recent roster moves, Smith’s continued presence didn’t make the list.

Things got especially hot against Smith during a brief period on Tuesday when it was reported that DT Perrion Winfrey was released. This turned out to be false, but it set off a wave of criticism of how Smith would make the team over one of the standout performers from the summer. Others have suggested that seventh-round rookie Jay Toia is more deserving of a roster spot than Smith, despite not having a particularly strong camp or preseason himself.

In the end, all three made the initial roster along with veterans Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas. We’ll see if the Cowboys add more DT talent from trades or free agency in the coming days, and who gets cut to make room for them. That could bring us back to this conversation of Smith versus Toia or Winfrey quickly.

The level of first-round frustration we’ve reached with Mazi Smith is rare in Dallas. We hit on these picks far more often than not. By the time they’ve reached their third and fourth seasons, the debate is usually about when to give them their second contracts as opposed to whether or not they’ll even get one. Tyler Smith, Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, Byron Jones, Zack Martin, Travis Frederick, Tyron Smith, Dez Bryant; it’s been a good run. Even Leighton Vander Esch, whose only sins were health-related, shouldn’t fall into the bust category.

But yes, and their names are already coming to your mind, there have been some failures along the way. But even in the worst of those cases, they all made the roster in their third seasons. Let’s run through them.

DE Taco Charlton in 2019​

The closest thing we’ve seen to the Mazi Smith situation in a long time, Charlton probably doesn’t make the roster in his third season if not for injury and other issues at defensive end. He didn’t last long, getting released in mid-September to make room for Robert Quinn’s return from suspension.

What makes Charlton different from Smith is that there was a publicly known rift between him and the coaching staff, particularly defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. Charlton being in the doghouse was reported on, and he made his own frustrations known through social media. We haven’t seen anything like that coming in either direction between Smith and the current regime, or previous ones. That had far more to do with Charlton’s early undoing than his lack of accomplishments on the field.

CB Morris Claiborne in 2014​

We remember Claiborne so unfondly because of Dallas trading up in 2012 to take him sixth overall. But even with his issues, he still played five seasons here before finally moving on. Even after an injury-plagued second season, there was no doubt he’d be part of the team in 2014. He played out his rookie contract and got a one-year, make-or-break opportunity to return in 2016. Things never went well with Claiborne, but it took way longer than two years for the team to finally cut bait.

CB Mike Jenkins in 2010​

Another guy who struggled with injuries, Jenkins was actually a Pro Bowl alternate in his second season. It’s easy to forget that, though, as he was off the team just three years later and didn’t do much else in his career. Jenkins fell out of favor after struggles in the 2009 playoff loss to the Vikings, then the following two seasons with play and health issues. His decline was part of what prompted the big move for Morris Claiborne in 2012. But for as bad as it went from there, he went into Year 3 on a relative high.

RB Felix Jones in 2010​

The Cowboys’ other first-round pick in 2008, Jones was never given much chance to live up to that draft status. He was taken to be a speedy complement to the bruising Marion Barber, and later got passed on the depth chart by DeMarco Murray. But it took five years before Dallas finally pulled the plug,

LB Bobby Carpenter in 2008​

Some called him “Bo Carp.” Others called him “Barbie.” But nobody’s ever called him a good use of a draft pick. As much as Carpenter struggled, though, he lasted four years in Dallas before finally getting traded away to the Rams. Going into his third season, Carpenter had only started one game and was falling out of favor. But he remained in a backup role for two more years, even after his biggest advocate, Bill Parcells, moved on.

---

We could keep going from here. Other ill-remembered first-round picks like DE Ebenezer Ekuban, TE David LaFleur, and DE Shante Carver got at least four seasons with the team. And this is all over a 30-year period, spanning six different head coaches and all the coordinator and assistant changes along the way. Even the front office, with Jerry Jones as the constant feature, has morphed throughout that time with Stephen Jones’ increasing influence and the comings and goings of guys like Jeff Ireland and Will McClay.

This shows you how coaches and executives generally loathe admitting failure on first-round picks. That’s why even the worst of them often see the end of their rookie contracts, and perhaps even get a last chance in Year 5. Even in Dallas, where the general manager has no fear about his job security, they want to maintain a good reputation for how they use these premium draft assets.

We’ll grant you that Mazi Smith’s first two seasons have been about as unproductive as possible, especially compared to other guys we’ve mentioned here. But there was only one case, with Taco-flavored character issues, that any of them didn’t at least make it through their third season. And given the lack of clear talent behind him at DT, particularly in the way of big-bodied guys to help against the run, Smith didn’t have anyone in a clear position to take his job.

Dallas’ decision makers also know that some of these issues are self-inflicted. Smith’s third season comes with his third defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. He’s been asked to lose weight as a rookie under Dan Quinn, bulk back up under Mike Zimmer, and slim back down under Matt Eberflus. In terms of giving their young prospect a consistent, smooth lane to make progress in, the team has arguably let him down, too.

However you may feel about it, Mazi Smith is getting a third season with the Cowboys. He still has time to make this work, and hopefully, we finally have the right combination of the player and coaches to maximize his potential. Going through another offseason transition may have kept him from shining in August, but he’ll get chances to show growth as the season rolls along.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ng-roster-cuts-shouldnt-have-surprised-anyone

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys roster move: Andrew Booth, Zion Childress released

The Dallas Cowboys finalized their 53-man roster on Tuesday afternoon, but as we said many times in the lead up to it, nothing about it was ever truly finalized.

Dallas Cowboys 2025 official 53-man roster: Full list of finalized group

In their initial finalization the Cowboys took advantage of the injured reserve spots that they are allowed per NFL rules. Each club is allowed to place two players on IR who maintain eligibility to be brought back during the season and can do so ahead of roster cutdowns. If a team wishes to place a third (or fourth, so on and so forth) player on injured reserve and be able to bring them back during the season, then they must carry them on their initial roster. It was reported that Phil Mafah and Caelen Carson were candidates to be placed on IR (all players on IR must miss four games at minimum), and while that may end up happening, the Cowboys have made two roster moves by releasing Andrew Booth and Zion Childress.

To make room for Trikweze Bridges and Reddy Steward, the Cowboys have released Andrew Booth and Zion Childress, per source. Childress likely to return to practice squad if he clears waivers.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 27, 2025

This is a ‘what goes up must come down’ time of year for NFL rosters as when they add a player, they also have to lose one. Earlier on Wednesday the Cowboys claimed two cornerbacks through waivers, Trikweze Bridges and Reddy Steward, so this is how they made that room for them.

It remains to be seen if the Cowboys are going to still move Mafah and Carson to injured reserve, but on the subject of Carson his position group is seeing a lot of turnover right now.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-booth-zion-childress-released-practice-squad

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Report: Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons seeking second opinion on back issue

The Dallas Cowboys begin their season eight days from now, and at the moment, it is unclear whether or not Micah Parsons is going to be on the field. Right now it is also fair to wonder whether he will even be in the building.

A photo of Parsons in the DFW airport began to circulate on the internet on Wednesday, and as speculation was running wild, NFL Network’s Jane Slater chimed in to note that Parsons is headed to get a second opinion on his back.

No he’s not headed to Cabo. I’m told Micah Parsons is getting a second opinion on his back per a source informed. The #Cowboys are off until Friday. https://t.co/TR2fwTqqET

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) August 27, 2025

Parsons has been citing a back issue as the reason for his not practicing. The Cowboys have noted that they are monitoring the situation on their end, but it has been reported that they conducted an MRI on him and that everything came back clean. That makes the situation cloudy.

Earlier this week ESPN’s Adam Schefter openly discussed Parsons’ back issue. He noted that while the Cowboys are saying everything is fine on their end, that Parsons claim of back tightness is “hard to argue with.” Without putting words in anyone’s mouth here, the implication seems to be that Parsons’ “back issue” (not being sarcastic or accusatory in any sense) may be a cover for dissatisfaction with the reality that his contract extension is not taken care of. This is the general assumption by many, but as Schefter noted, the claim is hard to argue with.

If you do believe that assumption, then it makes the seeking of a second opinion an interesting move. If (hypothetically speaking here) there is no actual back injury, then for what reason could a second opinion be needed?

The answer to that question is anyone’s best guess and (one would imagine/assume, but again we don’t know all of the facts) part of the contractual dance that continues to take place between the team and organization.

Ultimately the fact that Parsons is seeking a second opinion would suggest that this saga isn’t ending any time soon and that might be the most important takeaway among everything.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ah-parsons-seeking-second-opinion-back-injury

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Countdown to the season opener: Day 8 Tony Dorsett

We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we are running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football.

Today – number 8

---

Tony Dorsett​

Born: April 7, 1954.Rochester, Pennsylvania
Position: Running back
Dallas Cowboys: 1977-1987
Awards: Super Bowl champion- XII
All-Pro- 1981, 1982, 1983
Pro Bowl- 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983

Tony Dorsett played running back for the Dallas Cowboys from 1977 to 1987, becoming one of the most dynamic runners in franchise history. Drafted second overall out of Pittsburgh after winning the Heisman Trophy, Dorsett made an immediate impact, rushing for over 1,000 yards as a rookie and helping Dallas win Super Bowl XII. Known for his smooth running style, vision, and breakaway speed, he earned four Pro Bowl selections and retired as the Cowboys’ all-time leading rusher, a mark later surpassed by Emmitt Smith. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

Best known for:
Dorsett was best known for his explosive speed and big-play ability, including his legendary 99-yard touchdown run in 1983, the longest rushing play in NFL history.

Lesser known fact:
Dorsett is one of only a handful of players to win a college national championship, the Heisman Trophy, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and a Super Bowl. Remarkably he achieved all four in just a span of two years.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...56/countdown-season-opener-day-8-tony-dorsett

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Report: Packers interested in Micah Parsons, but Cowboys not interested in trade

There has been a lot of chatter on the internet about the Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons obviously, but as of late that chatter has also involved a third party… the Green Bay Packers.

You may have seen that the Packers have been “connected” to a trade offer for the Cowboys’ star pass rusher, but these have not come from the standard NFL insiders and reporters. To date there has been nothing along those lines, and what has been out there has been internet fodder more than anything, but that all changed a bit on Wednesday.

ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio reported that the Packers are definitely interested in Parsons, but the Cowboys have apparently not tolerated any of it and the noise around the situation is not as intense as the internet would have had anyone believe.

In response to recent indications from the Twitter user known as “RickeyScoops” (who undoubtedly owns real estate on the NFL’s grapevine) that the Packers want to trade for Parsons, we’ve done some digging. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Packers are “interested.” However, the interest is “nowhere near the smoke that’s out there.”

To be fair this “report” that the Packers are “interested” in Micah Parsons isn’t really much of anything if we take it as it is. Who wouldn’t be interested in Micah Parsons? This is like saying every team is interested in Patrick Mahomes or Myles Garrett. Everybody holds “interest” on some level.

The only reason this is notable is because of the internet fires that have been circulating around Parsons in general but with specific regard to rumors of the Packers having interest. Our friends at Acme Packing Company had been covering this in the same sort of way from their side of the equation.

As Florio pointed out, the Packers’ interest doesn’t matter as long as the Cowboys choose to hang onto Parsons. Until Jerry Jones decided that the two sides are beyond the point of a makeup, following sputtering contract negotiations that included Jones talking with Parsons instead of his agent, there will be no trade.

For now we can file this under a bunch of nothing, but again it felt relevant to put to bed as best we could.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...ackers-interested-trade-micah-parsons-cowboys

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys roster moves: Phil Mafah and Caelen Carson to IR, C.J. Goodwin and Hakeem Adeniji to roster

The Dallas Cowboys have been busy over the last day and change. On Tuesday afternoon the team finalized their initial 53-man roster, one we all knew was going to undergo amendments in the day that followed. That has happened.

Here is what happened in sequence to catch you up:

• Dallas was awarded Trikweze Bridges and Reddy Steward on waivers
• The Cowboys then released Andrew Booth and Zion Childress (with the latter as a practice squad candidate) to make room for them
• On the subject of the team’s practice squad, the Cowboys began filling theirs out

After all of this the team did what it had been reported they might by placing Phil Mafah and Caelen Carson on injured reserve, making room for C.J. Goodwin and Hakeem Adeniji to return to the active roster.

The Cowboys will place Phil Mafah (shoulder) and Caelen Carson (knee) on IR/returnable and C.J. Goodwin and Hakeem Adeniji (Garland) will sign to the active roster.

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 27, 2025

Final touches on the 53-man roster and practice squad can take a day or two to fully settle as the team is evaluating who is available like with Bridges and Steward. We are just about through with all of that processing though, and the Cowboys are close to beginning their first game week with them playing in the season opener next Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Micah Parsons is seeking a second opinion on his back injury. That doesn’t feel great. At least we were able to throw some cold water on those Green Bay Packers rumors, though. Kind of.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...afah-caelen-carson-ir-signings-practice-squad

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys news: The 2025 Dallas roster is taking shape

Mailbag: Can Eberflus avoid a slow start? – Mickey Spagnola & Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com​

Can the former Cowboys assistant coach hit the ground running?

Last year during OTAs, minicamp and training camp, the coaches kept praising how everyone was buying into coordinator Mike Zimmer’s defensive philosophy. Based on the defense’s performance early in the season and Zimmer himself admitting he should have done things differently, how does Matt Eberflus and his staff prevent a repeat of the slow start everyone suffered through last year? – Gary Hemming/Blackshear, GA

Mickey: Indeed, the Cowboys defense got off to a slow start last year, within the first seven games giving up 44 points to the Saints, 28 to Baltimore, 47 to Detroit and 30 to San Francisco, in the end giving up an average of 27.5 points a game. Not good. This defense will be challenged early, Matt Eberflus having sort out the cornerback position until Trevon Diggs is ready to play – at least he’s off PUP. The other challenge will be the defensive tackle position, key to stopping the run. They are good with Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas but will need more from Mazi Smith and rookie Jay Toia in the middle against the run. Now also would help if the offense is dynamic, and that side of the ball got off to a slow start, too, last year. After scoring 33 points in the opener, only once in the next nine games did the Cowboys score more than 24 points, and that was 25 in a 28-25 loss to the Ravens and remember Dak Prescott having gone down for the season in Game 8. Some of that goes hand in hand.

Tommy: Well, having your best player on defense back on the field would definitely help. Brian Schottenheimer’s confident that’ll be the case with Micah Parsons, but with how this saga has unfolded so far who knows? Aside from that, I think Eberflus has a lot of guys on this staff that are familiar with how he does thing and his system. That wasn’t necessarily as much of the case with Mike Zimmer. Familiarity with the scheme and how Eberflus will call the defense in general helps avoid some of the things early from last season that Mike Zimmer regretted not doing earlier.

Agent’s Take: Putting Jerry Jones’ ‘handshake’ agreement with Cowboys star Micah Parsons into context – Joel Corry, CBS Sports​

The outcome remains ambiguous regarding Parsons and his contract.

It’s already been an eventful week for hold-ins. Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin signed a three-year contract extension reportedly worth up to $96 million. Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson reached a compromise with the Cincinnati Bengals where he gets a $14 million raise to bring his 2025 pay to $30 million.

The most high-profile contract dispute remaining is between edge rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys. All of the attention turns to the Cowboys. That’s exactly how Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants it.

Jones is adamant that Parsons reneged on a “handshake” agreement they made sometime in March about a contract extension. His repeated insistence that he thought he had a deal contradicts his statements at the NFL annual meeting held March 30 to April 2.

“I know that I’ve spent five, six hours with him (Parsons) myself and had a lot of discussions. Most of the issues are in agreement, and I’ve discussed it all,” Jones said. “We obviously don’t have an agreement relative to a new contract. Micah is under contract. So we’ll see how that goes. It’s not uncommon for me to visit directly with players, and in this particular case, that’s what I’m doing.”

It’s understandable why Mulugheta wasn’t interested in validating anything Jones discussed with his client given Dallas’ contract preferences. Jones was likely speaking figuratively not literally about [David] Mulugheta supposedly telling the Cowboys to stick the details of the contract with Parsons up their ass.

There’s good reason for Jones wanting to keep Mulugheta out of the process. Parsons becoming the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback is probably a necessity for Mulugheta. Jones surely recognizes that Mulugheta will balk at a longer-term extension. Mulugheta will likely be adamant that Parsons’ extension should be four years, just like in Lamb’s and Prescott’s cases, with a favorable guarantee vesting and player-friendly cash flow.

Cowboys land reinforcements in an attempt to solve major problem on 53-man roster, including player with ‘unbelievable’ trait – Mauricio Rodriguez, et al., AtoZSports.com​

Roster cuts and waivers led to some new players being added in Dallas.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer teased waiver wire reinforcements on Tuesday and on Wednesday, he delivered.

The Cowboys claimed two defensive backs, Trikweze Bridges (from Los Angeles Chargers) and Reddy Stewart (from Minnesota Vikings). Though fans and media members expected help at defensive tackle, bolstering the defensive backfield also makes sense as the Cowboys navigate injuries.

The latest additions to the 53-man roster means the Cowboys will need to open two spots.

In the meantime, to get familiar with the newest members of the Cowboys, I reached out to A to Z Sports’ Vikings expert Tyler Forness and Chargers expert Adam Holt for insight. What they shared is encouraging, as Dallas is getting versatility and promising traits. Let’s dive in.

On Reddy Steward: Aggressive playstyle

Reddy Steward nearly made the Vikings’ roster and was a player they likely wanted to make the practice squad. He was an aggressive player on the outside and always seemed to be around the ball. His PBU on fourth down against the Tennessee Titans in the final preseason game really stood out as a positive play that could propel him to the 53-man roster. He can play multiple spots on the backend, and will be a solid special teams contributor. – Tyler Forness

On Trikweze Bridges: Unbelievable length

Bridges is a really intriguing player. Why’s that? His length is unbelievable, and it doesn’t shock me that the Cowboys valued adding a cornerback with his size. Bridges looms at 6’2 with 33-inch arms. There were highs and lows from the young defender in camp, but he did show off his ball skills with multiple interceptions. Bridges struggled in the preseason at times against downfield routes and against top-end speed. A position swap to safety could be in his future at some point, but Dallas clearly liked the tools he possesses enough to scoop him up. It’ll be interesting to see if they find a spot on him somewhere on their depth chart now to begin the season. – Adam Holt

Dallas Cowboys sign QB Will Grier to practice squad after release – Chandler Vessels, On3.com​

The final roster and practice squad is coming into shape.

The Dallas Cowboys have re-signed quarterback Will Grier to their practice squad, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Grier was released by the Cowboys on Tuesday, which was the deadline for teams for make 53-man roster cuts.

Although Grier won’t be on the 53-man roster to start the season, it appears the team still sees value in him and wants to keep him as a backup option just in case. Only two quarterbacks made Dallas’ 53-man roster, Dak Prescott and Joe Milton.

This preseason, Grier was 7-of-14 passing for 87 yards. He did not throw any touchdowns or interceptions.

Grier first arrived in Dallas in 2021 after being cut from the Carolina Panthers.

View Link

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...g-shape-signings-practice-squad-micah-parsons

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Cowboys roundtable discussion: Looking back at Joe Milton and the Falcons preseason game

Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman, Jess Haynie, and Tom Ryle.

What grade do you give Joe Milton for his performance against the Atlanta Falcons and what did he do differently that looked most improved?​

Joe Milton looked significantly sharper at quarterback for Dallas in the matchup against Atlanta in the final preseason game last week. Compared to his previous outings, he showed a noticeable leap in composure and control of the offense. His poise in the pocket stood out as his decisions about getting rid of the ball improved.

His footwork was significantly cleaner, with more balance on his drops and better mechanics stepping into his throws (although still not perfect). That improvement translated directly into accuracy, as he delivered the ball with timing and precision, consistently putting it where only his receivers could make a play. Whether hitting quick routes in stride or driving the ball downfield, Milton’s ball placement was markedly better.

Tom: Milton was using some touch on his passes, and I think that’s pretty important. He clearly has a strong arm, but QBs have to be able to dial it back. I’m feeling noticeably better about the team locking in on him as QB2.

Howman: In a vacuum, I’d probably give Milton a solid B for this game. However, in the context of the last two preseason games, it would be an A just because we desperately needed to see this from him. I’m still not sold on Milton as QB2, especially over Will Grier, but this was encouraging.

Jess: It was a dramatic improvement from the last two games. The most obvious thing was the touch on throws, particularly on some out routes, that made for easy catches for his receivers. Early success led to confidence, which led to more success. Big for him in the last expected touches he’ll get. Now comes the hard part: does playing well for only about a third of the time really mean he is a capable QB2?

---

Which player was the biggest standout for you against the Falcons?​

The Falcons game had some solid performers which is a good sign going into the regular season.
Milton was sharp, completing 10 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown as well as scoring on the ground via a 1-yard run.

Jaydon Blue made his NFL preseason debut count, running for 25 yards and a touchdown, showing promise before exiting with an ankle issue. Phil Mafah found the end zone with his first preseason touchdown, adding a powerful 15-yard run into the mix.

Signed at the beginning of training camp, James Houston turned heads throughout the preseason and capped it off with a notable sack against the Falcons. Highlighting the defensive effort, Shemar James jumped a route and snatched an interception, finishing off a solid preseason for the rookie linebacker.

Tom: I’m going to take Ryan Flournoy, who successfully made his case for the 53-man roster. If he can have the same kind of chemistry with Dak Prescott he can be a legitimate asset.

Howman: Two words: James. Houston. He’s done nothing but dominate all three preseason games, and this one was no exception. He definitely deserved his spot on the team.

Jess: I’d have also gone with Houston, so I’ll talk about Deuce Vaughn instead. It was for naught given the roles that Jaydon Blue and KaVontae Turpin already occupy in Dallas, but Vaughn looked like he belongs in an NFL offense’s toolbox. We’ll see where he ends up after his release.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...-at-joe-milton-and-the-falcons-preseason-game

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

BTB Thursday Discussion: Would you forgive the Cowboys if they traded Micah Parsons?

Today officially marks one week until the season begins for the Dallas Cowboys. It is an exciting time.

As fun as it is that football is back, college football fully begins this week (this Sun Devil and Gator is ready), a cloud hangs over this team as it is unknown whether or not its best player will be on the field when the party kicks off.

It was reported on Wednesday that Micah Parsons is seeking a second opinion on his back injury, a move that may or may not be related to ongoing contract extensions. Nobody is levying any accusations here, we are just noting what may or may not be happening here in the name of general discussion.

Speaking of discussion, for ours today we have a very simple question.

Would you forgive the Cowboys if they wound up trading Micah?

We are asking you to answer the question and that means yes or no. Obviously this is a complicated issue with layers to it, but we are curious how the group feels.

Parsons is indeed seeking a second opinion, but it all may be related to a situation that is irrecoverable with the Cowboys specifically. That is just one hypothetical which is why a trade still exists in a world of infinite possibilities.

So if they did… would you forgive them?

Let us know in the comments below!

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...s-message-board-micah-parsons-potential-trade

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

What Cowboys are getting in new corners Trikweze Bridges and Reddy Steward

After a flurry of moves on Tuesday to cut down to 53 players, the Cowboys added two new names on Wednesday via the waiver wire. Thanks to nobody else claiming them before Dallas popped up in the waiver wire order, cornerbacks Trikweze Bridges and Reddy Stewart are now part of America’s Team.

The Dallas Cowboys have claimed CB Trikweze Bridges and CB Reddy Stewart off waivers.

Bridges was a 2025 seventh-round pick by the Chargers. He went to Florida but played three seasons at Oregon with current Cowboys WRs coach Junior Adams.

Stewart went undrafted in 2024 to the…

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) August 27, 2025

In order to make room for the two new players, the Cowboys released two other cornerbacks, Andrew Booth Jr. and Zion Childress, with the latter expected to return to the practice squad if he clears waivers. Clearly, the Cowboys really wanted both Bridges and Steward, so what are they getting in each of them?

Bridges was a seventh-round pick this year by the Chargers. He came out of Florida, but spent the three previous seasons at Oregon, where the Cowboys’ new wide receivers coach worked at the time. With the Gators, Bridges alternated between corner and safety, but mostly played corner; he led the team in tackles last season.

Bridges features appealing size and length, standing at 6’2” and 196 pounds with 33” arms. He also ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, which reflected the explosive closing speed he played with at Florida. Dane Brugler of The Athletic listed Bridges as his 40th best cornerback and had this to say:

An impressive athlete for his size, Bridges can press and use his impressive length to reroute receivers. He closes distance well from off coverage and arrives with physicality.

Overall, Bridges has the tools and versatility to match up with size at receiver, and his impressive testing likely guarantees him a long look in an NFL training camp.

Those traits could almost be word-for-word what defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus looks for in cornerbacks. He prefers length, closing speed, and overall explosive athleticism, as those traits help translate to plays in his zone-heavy scheme.

Steward, like Bridges, grew up in Alabama. However, unlike Bridges, Steward stayed close to home and played for Troy. He grew into a starting role in his final season there, posting 50 tackles and four picks. He earned his second consecutive First-Team All-Sun Belt for his efforts, too.

Despite that, Steward was largely overlooked in the draft. Brugler rated him as the 58th best cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft, and did not even write up notes about him. Steward went undrafted, but Eberflus snatched him up in Chicago.

Steward picked up the scheme quickly, and he flashed in the final preseason game with two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He spent the year on the Bears’ practice squad, getting called up for one game against the Cardinals. In that game, Steward forced a fumble against rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

REDDY STEWARD PICK-6

: FOX32 pic.twitter.com/AiTEJ4sOE1

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 23, 2024

Whereas Bridges’ size fits the profile of an outside cornerback, Steward is an ideal slot corner. He exclusively played that position in Eberflus’ Bears defense last year, and with a 5’10” frame hovering around 185 pounds, his slippery ability makes him a good fit inside. The institutional knowledge of the scheme also adds to the appeal, obviously.

Of course, neither of these corners will be counted on to start games for the Cowboys unless something goes horribly wrong. But Bridges has the raw potential to provide legitimate depth with real upside outside, while Steward is a scrappy slot corner whom Eberflus clearly likes working with. Both additions seem to be logical thought processes in beefing up the depth of this secondary.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dal...rs-cornerbacks-trikweze-bridges-reddy-steward

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

One fantasy football nugget for each NFL team that you don’t want to forget about

The new season is almost here, and with it comes many fantasy predictions. Each year provides new surprises, but there are also many things that continue to play out as expected. Being able to identify the constants and capitalize on the variables that hit is usually the difference maker in determining who emerges as a fantasy champion in your league. Today, we’ll look at one fantasy nugget for every NFL football team.

Arizona Cardinals – Trey McBride is the less-popular twin of Brock Bowers, who has almost an identical elite target share.

Atlanta Falcons – Bijan Robinson is the only elite RB who has all the green flags (workload, receiving, goal line) without any of the red flags (injury, timeshare, new coordinator, etc.).

Baltimore Ravens – If you want a top 3 fantasy quarterback, Lamar Jackson is the safest choice every year.

Buffalo Bills – Players see a drop in production after dating a celebrity (see Tony Romo and Aaron Rodgers). Josh Allen just married Hailee Steinfeld. Expect him to bust thi…just kidding, Allen should tear it up again.

Carolina Panthers – Rico Dowdle put up good numbers in Dallas last year because they had absolutely no one else. Don’t let his presence discount the always underrated Chuba Hubbard.

Chicago Bears – D.J. Moore has Amon Ra St. Brown upside in Ben Johnson’s offense.

Cincinnati Bengals – Chase Brown is a dynamic RB who now has full ownership of a backfield on a high-powered offense, who will almost never face a loaded box.

Cleveland Browns – Only six WRs had more targets than Jerry Jeudy last year. He should see enough work to be a low-cost fantasy option.

Dallas Cowboys – Dak Prescott has elite fantasy QB upside when he is healthy and has a good receiving group. He could be primed for a big season with the addition of George Pickens.

Denver Broncos – R.J. Harvey could be the sneakiest pick in fantasy on a rising Broncos football team with a strong defense that will rely on their running game.

Detroit Lions – The gap between St. Brown and Jameson Williams is shrinking. Buy J-Dub stock now before it skyrockets.

Green Bay Packers – If you plan on waiting on TE, Tucker Kraft is a great target. His metrics (red zone usage, YAC) could push him closer to the top if his volume increases.

Houston Texans – C.J. Stroud has too many receiving weapons to not rebound and be fantasy irrelevant this year. He should be a superflex target.

Indianapolis Colts – Nothing mitigates QB discontent like a high-volume running game behind a good offensive line. Jonathan Taylor should once again feast.

Jacksonville Jaguars – With Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter, Trevor Lawrence has QB1 upside.

Kansas City Chiefs – If your roster space allows, stashing Rashee Rice for a late-season run is a clever strategy.

Los Angeles Chargers – Harbaugh is a run-first coach, but Justin Herbert has an assortment of receiver weapons to offer some sneaky value in superflex leagues.

Los Angeles Rams – The volume, offense, and having zero competition behind him bode well for Kyren Williams in finishing as a top seven RB for the third-straight season.

Las Vegas Raiders – All eyes are on RB Ashton Jeanty and TE Brock Bowers (and for good reason), but don’t sleep on the great fantasy value that is WR Jakobi Myers.

Miami Dolphins – De’Von Achane is always dealing with something. Rookie RB Ollie Gordon could be this year’s “where did he come from” fantasy producer.

Minnesota Vikings – How bad would J.J. McCarthy have to be to not produce good numbers throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson? If Sam Darnold can do it (fifth most passing yards last year), so can he.

New England Patriots – While everyone is clamoring over the rookie TreVeyon Henderson (and you should), don’t completely forget about Rhamondre Stevenson.

New Orleans Saints – Why do people keep forgetting that Alvin Kamara is a fantasy stud? Add Kellen Moore, who will assuredly feature his strongest weapon, and he should be poised for another strong season.

New York Giants – Malik Nabers has talent, and he has a massive target share. Give him a viable quarterback, whether it’s Russell Wilson or Jaxon Dart, and he will cook.

New York Jets – It’s not sexy, but Garrett Wilson is the only thing reliable about the Jets’ offense. He has yet to finish outside the top six in WR targets over his three-year career. Don’t expect things to change after reuniting with his college quarterback.

Philadelphia Eagles – A.J. Brown missing four games last year could provide a recency bias discount if he slides out of the top 10.

Pittsburgh Steelers – If RB Jaylen Warren finally gets more opportunities, he could eat in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offense.

Seattle Seahawks – Jaxon Smith-Njigba is now the alpha, and Cooper Kupp is just enough of a beta to keep defenses honest. Expect a career year from JSN.

San Francisco 49ers – George Kittle has averaged over 10 points per game in seven-straight seasons. Despite his durability concerns, he’s only had one season where he’s missed more than three games.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The weaponry of Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, and the eventual return of Chris Godwin make Baker Mayfield primed for another top five fantasy finish.

Tennessee Titans – Calvin Ridley has WR1 potential if rookie Cam Ward turns out to be a good quarterback.

Washington Commanders – Whether it’s fantasy or reality, people continuously undervalue Terry McLaurin.

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/general/179044/one-fantasy-football-nugget-each-nfl-team-advice

 

[Dallas Cowboys]

Report: Dallas Cowboys willing to listen to trade offers for Micah Parsons

There appears to have been a change of tone from the Dallas Cowboys relative to the Micah Parsons situation. It was reported on Thursday afternoon by ESPN that the Cowboys are willing to listen to trade offers for Parsons. Up until now this had not been the case.

Several teams have spoken to the Dallas Cowboys about a potential Micah Parsons’ trade and for the first time the Cowboys appear willing to at least listen, according to multiple sources.

No trade is imminent, but another team always could be aggressive enough to make it come together quickly, per sources.

The Cowboys would like to resolve the situation, one way or another, in the coming days with their season opener next Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys hold their first full practice in preparation for the Eagles on Friday.

It is noted here that the Cowboys begin their season a week from today in the NFL’s opener on Thursday, September 4th. There is no question that it makes sense for there to be a resolution on this matter before then, but it has made sense for there to be a resolution for some time now.

While it is possible that the Cowboys do not wind up trading Parsons, the significance of this report should not be overlooked. It was noted on Wednesday that the rumored interest from the Green Bay Packers is real, but up until now anything along those lines had never been corroborated from the Cowboys side of things.

For what it’s worth, this could all be posturing from the Cowboys in an event to try and prove to Parsons and his representation how serious they are and that they might legitimately consider trading him away; however, it is equally possible in a world of hypotheticals that they are legitimately mulling over trading him.

What do you think about this development?

Source: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/dallas-cowboys-news/179211/team-willing-listen-trade-micah-parsons