Dak Prescott Expected To Participate In OTAs, Be Cleared For Training Camp
The second ankle surgery Dak Prescott underwent in December injected a bit of uncertainty into the Cowboys quarterback’s return timetable, but this year continues to unfold smoothly for the sixth-year veteran.
Two months after signing a monster extension, Prescott is expected to participate in the Cowboys’ OTA sessions, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. While Mike McCarthy said Prescott will likely be restricted to individual work during Dallas’ OTAs, the second-year coach expects his quarterback to be full go come training camp.
“I have no reason not to think that,” McCarthy said of Prescott receiving full clearance by training camp, via Hill. “I think this week in Phase 2 (of the offseason program) will be a nice step in that direction. He’ll do most things. He’s really had some excellent workouts here in the last couple weeks. I’d see him doing most of the work.”
This certainly represents good news for a Cowboys team now fully committed to the former Offensive Rookie of the Year. The soon-to-be 28-year-old passer’s recovery timetable was to be between four and six months, and Hill notes the December cleanup procedure is not believed to have delayed the recovery process. The Cowboys begin Phase 2 of their offseason program Monday. Phase 3, the OTA portion, begins May 24.
The 2020 Cowboys certainly missed their starter during the final three quarters of the season, after Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle last October. From 2016-19, Dak did not miss a game and established himself as the Cowboys’ franchise QB. The Cowboys let Andy Dalton walk in free agency and did not replace him with a veteran.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/16/21
Here are Sunday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Olive Sagapolu
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Joe Giles-Harris
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: DB Matt Amendola, LB Daniel Bituli, DE P.J. Johnson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Chris Lacy
- Waived: LB Michael Pinckney
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: T Evin Ksiezarczyk
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Case Cookus
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Charlie Taumoepeau
- Signed: DB Alijah Holder
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Shyheim Carter
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Kyle Murphy, DT Lorenzo Neal, LB Quentin Poling
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/21
Today’s late round signings:
Buffalo Bills
- G Jack Anderson (seventh-round; Texas Tech), OL Tommy Doyle (fifth-round; Miami Ohio), WR Marquez Stevenson (sixth-round; Houston), CB Rachad Wildgoose (sixth-round; Wisconsin)
Carolina Panthers
- DT Daviyon Nixon (fifth-round; Iowa), CB Keith Taylor (fifth-round; Washington), OL Deonte Brown (sixth-round; Alabama), Thomas Fletcher (sixth-round; Alabama), WR Shi Smith (sixth-round; South Carolina), DT Phil Hoskins (seventh-round; Kentucky)
Cleveland Browns
- RB Demetric Felton (sixth round; UCLA), LB Tony Fields II (fifth-round; West Virginia), S Richard LeCounte (fifth round; Georgia)
Dallas Cowboys
- DT Quinton Bohanna (sixth round; Kentucky) WR Simi Fehoko (fifth round; Stanford), OL Matt Farniok (seventh-round; Nebraska), DB Israel Mukuamu (sixth-round; South Carolina)
Denver Broncos
- S Jamar Johnson (fifth round; Indiana), DL Marquiss Spencer (seventh round; Mississippi State)
Detroit Lions
- DT Alim McNeill (third round; North Carolina State)
Green Bay Packers
- OL Cole Van Lanen (sixth-round; Wisconsin), RB Kylin Hill (seventh-round; Mississippi State)
Kansas City Chiefs
- DE Joshua Kaindoh (fourth-round; Florida State), WR Cornell Powell (fifth-round; Clemson), TE Noah Gray (fifth-round; Duke), OL Trey Smith (sixth-round; Tennessee)
Los Angeles Chargers
- OL Brenden Jaimes (fifth-round; Nebraska)
Miami Dolphins
- OL Larnel Coleman (seventh-round; UMass), RB Gerrid Doaks (seventh-round; Cincinnati)
Minnesota Vikings
- WR/KR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (fifth-round; Iowa), DL Jaylen Twyman (sixth-round; Pittsburgh), TE Zach Davidson (fifth-round; Central Missouri
New England Patriots
- S Joshuah Bledsoe (sixth-round; Missouri)
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Jaylon Moore (fifth-round; Western Michigan), CB Deommodore Lenoir (fifth-round; Oregon), S Talanoa Hufanga (fifth-round; USC), RB Elijah Mitchell (sixth-round; Louisiana)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LB K.J. Britt (fifth-round; Auburn), CB Chris Wilcox (seventh-round; BYU), LB Grant Stuard (seventh-round; Houston)
Washington Football Team
- CB Benjamin St-Juste (third-round; Minnesota), S Darrick Forrest (fifth-round; Cincinnati), DE Shaka Toney (seventh-round; Penn State)
QB J.T. Barrett Joining Cowboys On Tryout Basis
J.T. Barrett is getting another shot at an NFL gig. The journeyman quarterback is joining the Cowboys on a tryout basis, reports ESPN’s Todd Archer. Dallas is also auditioning quarterback Brady Davis.
Barrett had a standout career at Ohio State, earning three first team All-Big-Ten nods and setting a number of school records. He ultimately finished his collegiate career with a 38-6 record, tossing 104 touchdowns vs. only 30 interceptions. While many of his teammates were ultimately drafted following their stints with the Buckeyes, Barrett went undrafted in 2018.
Since that time, the quarterback hasn’t been able to hold a steady gig in the NFL. He’s had two stints with the Saints, and he also spent time with the Seahawks and Steelers, but the 26-year-old has yet to see the field for a regular season game. 2020 was the first season where Barrett didn’t have a job, so this could be his final chance to crack an NFL roster.
While he has some familiarity with a handful of Cowboys players (including college teammate Ezekiel Elliott), Barrett will be hard pressed to make the regular season roster. Barrett will have to leap at least two of Cooper Rush, Garrett Gilbert, and Ben DiNucci for the opportunity to be one of Dak Prescott‘s backup.
Davis, an undrafted free agent in 2020, split his collegiate career between Memphis and Illinois State. In 27 games for the Redbirds, the quarterback compiled 3,514 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Cowboys Host Jeff Driskel
Jeff Driskel was just cut by the Broncos a few days ago, and it didn’t take long for the backup veteran quarterback to generate some interest.
The Cowboys flew in Driskel Thursday night for a Friday visit, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Last night Gehlken had tweeted there was “a good chance Driskel signs” which would make him the “favorite to serve as Dak Prescott’s primary backup in 2021.” However, sources told long-time Cowboys beat writer Clarence Hill Jr. on Friday afternoon that there wouldn’t be a deal at this time (Twitter link).
It sounds like the door will remain open for a signing in the future, and perhaps Driskel is seeking too much money. He was set to earn $2.5MM this year with Denver. The Broncos paid him $2.5MM for 2020, and that notable salary along with the Cowboys’ apparent immediate interest show that some around the league think relatively highly of him as a backup.
That’s despite never looking anything better than mediocre in his spot starts over the years. Driskel started five games for the Bengals in 2018, three with the Lions in 2019, and one with the Broncos last year. After Andy Dalton went to the Bears the Cowboys only have Garrett Gilbert, Ben DiNucci and Cooper Rush on the depth chart behind Prescott, so it’s not surprising they’re kicking the tires on a new veteran backup.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/6/21
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Juwan Green
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: CB Will Sunderland
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: G Marquel Harrell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Claimed (from Cowboys): DB Kemon Hall
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Albert Huggins, WR Easop Winston
New York Jets
- Waived: CB Kyron Brown
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed (from Cowboys): CB Saivion Smith
- Signed: TE Nick Guggemos
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed (from Cowboys): LB Ladarius Hamilton
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Justin March-Lillard, CB Greg Mabin, RB Brian Hill
- Waived: CB Kareem Orr
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: CB Kemon Hall, DE Ladarius Hamilton, DT Walter Palmore, C Adam Redmond
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Malik Jefferson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Chris Finke
New York Jets
- Claimed (from 49ers): WR Matt Cole
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed (from Jaguars): LB Nate Evans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Raven Greene, LB Joseph Jones
Cowboys Cut Antwaun Woods, Saivion Smith
The Cowboys are waiving starting defensive tackle Antwaun Woods (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). Woods was retained as a restricted free agent, but the Cowboys will shed his salary instead after drafting multiple defensive linemen. In addition, the Cowboys have also cut cornerback Saivion Smith, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter).
Woods has started 32 of his 39 games for Dallas over the past three years, compiling 80 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a pair of fumble recoveries. By cutting the former UDFA, the Cowboys will save $2.133MM on the books for 2021.
The veteran was a favorite of Rod Marinelli, but defensive coordinator Dan Quinn wants to move the D-Line in a new direction. Now, the interior will be bolstered by UCLA fourth-rounder Osa Odighizuwa and Kentucky sixth-rounder Quinton Bohanna.
Smith, meanwhile, spent the bulk of last year on the practice squad. He’s been pushed out by the arrival of rookies Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright.
Cowboys Decline Leighton Vander Esch’s Option
Another big name player is getting his option turned down. The Cowboys have informed Leighton Vander Esch‘s agent that they won’t be picking up the fifth-year option on the linebacker, Jane Slater of NFL Network tweets.
That means Vander Esch is now set to be a free agent after this season. What it doesn’t mean however is that the Cowboys no longer view the Boise State product in their future plans. Instead, Slater writes that the decision was “due to ongoing salary-cap uncertainty” and that the Cowboys “instead hope to sign Leighton to a contract extension before his current deal expires.”
Picking up the option would’ve fully guaranteed LVE $9.145MM for 2022, a steep price considering he’s missed 13 games due to injury the past two seasons. Dallas drafting Micah Parsons in the first-round this past week provided the writing on the wall for this decision, even if the team insists they still want to keep Vander Esch around.
Vander Esch was the 19th overall pick of the 2018 draft. He made the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro as a rookie, but his last two seasons have been disappointing.
As a rookie, he had 140 tackles, seven passes defended, and two interceptions. In 2020 he had only 60 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and no passes defended in 10 games. He only turned 25 in February, and will have the chance to secure an even bigger payday if he can have a strong 2021 campaign.
Cowboys Sign 13 UDFAs
The Cowboys became the latest team to set their UDFA class on Sunday. Dallas agreed to terms with the following 13 undrafted rookies, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
- JaQuan Hardy, RB (Tiffin)
- Brenden Knox, RB (Marshall)
- Nick Ralston, FB (Louisiana)
- Brennan Eagles, WR (Texas)
- Osirus Mitchell, WR (Mississippi State)
- Brandon Smith, WR (Iowa)
- T.J. Vasher, WR (Texas Tech)
- Nick Eubanks, TE (Michigan)
- Artayvious Lynn, TE (TCU)
- Braylon Jones, G/C (Houston)
- Austin Faoliu, DT (Oregon)
- Anthony Hines, LB (Texas A&M)
- Tyler Coyle, S (Purdue)
After using eight of their 11 draft picks to address the defense, the Cowboys clearly intended to load up their UDFA class with skill position guys. Of those receivers it would appear Smith has the best chance of cracking the roster, since the Cowboys gave him $132K in guaranteed money, Aaron Wilson tweets. He got $120K in guaranteed salary and a $12K signing bonus.
Smith never put up huge numbers in the Big Ten, and only had 23 catches for 231 yards in seven games last year, but Dallas thinks he has some potential. Hines, the linebacker from Texas A&M, got $55K guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Hines only played in one game in 2018 due to injury, returned with a solid 2019 season when he had 10.5 tackles for loss, and then opted out of the 2020 campaign. He has impressive burst and athletic ability, but has below average instincts and often has poor tackling form, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com writes.