Cowboys Planned On Re-Signing Brian Price To 53
- The Raiders threw a wrench into the plans of the Cowboys when they claimed defensive tackle Brian Price off waivers, according to Todd Archer of ESPN (Twitter link). Archer writes that the team planned on re-signing Price when they placed Dante Jones on injured reserve, but that they never got the chance, and that they will now be searching for a new defensive tackle.
- In case you missed it, despite not having much experience behind Dak Prescott, the Cowboys won’t be in the market for a backup quarterback.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/4/18
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves.
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Josh Hawkins
- Placed on injured list: DE Kiante Anderson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Brad Seaton
- Cut: OL Christian DiLauro
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DB Treston Decoud, DT Aziz Shittu, G Cody Wichmann
- Cut: DE Charles Tapper
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE MyCole Pruitt
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Lenzy Pipkins
- Cut: CB D.J. White
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Justin Jackson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: OL Evan Boehm
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Josh Banks
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Joe Walker
- Cut: LB Asantay Brown
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Branden Jackson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Damore’ea Stringfellow
- Cut: WR Austin Proehl
Cowboys Not Looking For Backup QB
When examined purely through an investment and experience lens, the Cowboys’ quarterback depth chart looks like the NFL’s strangest. Behind fourth-round pick Dak Prescott are second-year UDFA Cooper Rush and fifth-round rookie Mike White.
Were Prescott to go down, Dallas could be at a significant disadvantage. But the Cowboys are content with their situation behind Prescott at the moment, with Jerry Jones saying Tuesday (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer, on Twitter) the team is not looking for a backup-QB upgrade “at this time.”
Jones made the Cowboys’ interest in Paxton Lynch well known two years ago, when he lamented not pulling the trigger to trade up for the then-coveted quarterback. The Cowboys could land Lynch for cheap now, though the recently waived prospect has a Bills visit scheduled, but the 6-foot-7 passer’s stock has obviously plummeted considerably because of his NFL work sample to date. Connor Cook, another previous Cowboys target in 2016, is also available after the Raiders cut him.
Prescott’s made 32 regular-season starts for the Cowboys since arriving in Dallas, but he is one of the better rushing threats from the quarterback position in the league — his 357 ground yards last season ranked fifth among QBs — thus exposing him to additional potential punishment. While Jones’ stance could change, Cowboys brass will stick with the incumbent signal-callers behind Prescott for now.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/3/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Brian Hill
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB B.J. Bello, S Demetrious Cox, CB Chris Jones
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DE Christian LaCouture
Chicago Bears
Signed:
- OL Dejon Allen
- DL Abdullah Anderson
- QB Tyler Bray
- WR Tanner Gentry
- DB Michael Joseph
- DB Jonathon Mincy
- RB Taquan Mizzell
- RB Ryan Nall
- OL James Stone
- LB Josh Woods
Cleveland Browns
Signed:
- OL Christian DiLauro
- DL Daniel Ekuale
- DL Zaycoven Henderson
- RB Dontrell Hilliard
- OL Kyle Kalis
- TE Pharoah McKever
- DB Jeremiah McKinnon
- DB Montrel Meander
- DB Tigie Sankoh (International Pathway Player, does not count against 10-man limit)
- WR Da’Mari Scott
- LB Brady Sheldon
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Bo Scarbrough
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DT John Atkins, CB Cre’Von LeBlanc, DE Eric Lee
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G Avery Gennesy, OLB Jeff Holland
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Mike Tyson
Indianapolis Colts
Signed:
- G Jamil Douglas
- RB Jeremy McNichols
- DE Carroll Phillips
- LB Ahmad Thomas
- DE Jihad Ward
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Thomas Duarte, QB Cardale Jones
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Cole Hikutini
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Jace Billingsley, T Eric Smith
New York Jets
Signed:
- WR Deontay Burnett
- C Nico Falah
- OT Dieugot Joseph
- RB De’Angelo Henderson
- DL Bronson Kaufasi
- QB John Wolford
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Ukeme Eligwe
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: G/T Denver Kirkland, DB Terrell Sinkfield, DB Rico Gafford
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Zack Golditch
Seattle Seahawks
Signed:
- RB Lavon Coleman
- DT Frank Herron
- CB Akeem King
- TE Marcus Lucas
- QB Alex McGough
- T Elijah Nkansah
- WR Keenan Reynolds
- G Jordan Roos
- WR Caleb Scott
- LB Antwione Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Signed:
- OL Cole Boozer
- CB Javien Elliott
- DE Demone Harris
- TE Tanner Hudson
- S Godwin Igwebuike
- DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
- LB Eric Nzeocha (International Pathway Player, does not count against 10-man limit)
- DE Pat O’Connor
- RB Dare Ogunbowale
- LB Azeem Victor
- WR Bobo Wilson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Coleman Shelton, WR Austin Proehl, DL Deon Simon, QB Logan Woodside
Bailey Was Cut Primarily For Financial Reasons
The biggest surprise of cut-down day may have been kicking related. There was a collective shock around the league when out of nowhere the Cowboys released longtime kicker Dan Bailey. Bailey, who appears to possibly be on the verge of signing with the Jets, is the second most accurate kicker in NFL history in terms of field goal percentage.
At a press conference today Cowboys coach Jason Garrett opened up about the decision to move on from Bailey. Garrett indicated that the decision was primarily financially related, according to Clarence Hill Jr. (Twitter link). Bailey was set to make $3.4MM this year, and Garrett also said that injuries played a role. Garrett reportedly spent the first six minutes of his presser talking about the kicking situation, as there were a ton of questions about Bailey.
Cowboys Re-Sign WR Deonte Thompson
Just two days after being cut, receiver Deonte Thompson is signing back with the Cowboys, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
Thompson inked a one-year, $2.5MM deal with Dallas in March. The pact included a $1MM signing bonus, so it was surprising when the team let him go at final cuts on Saturday. Perhaps the plan was to bring him back all along, once space was made on the roster.
Thompson spent time with the Bills and Bears last year. Between the two clubs, he turned in the best season of his career with 38 grabs for 555 yards and two touchdowns. The Broncos and the incumbent Bills also expressed interest in the late bloomer before he hooked on with Jerry Jones & Co.
Thompson, who entered the league as an UDFA in 2012 with the Ravens, will have a chance to make a real impact in 2018. With Dez Bryant and Jason Witten both gone, the Cowboys have a lot of production from last year’s pass-catchers to replace.
Travis Frederick To Avoid Cowboys’ IR
While it’s not certain when Travis Frederick will be back as the Cowboys’ starting center, the team will not place him on IR.
The All-Pro center’s unknown timetable has prompted the Cowboys to keep him on their active roster rather than using an IR-stash strategy, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Placing Frederick on IR, which was a consideration going into the weekend, would shelve the 27-year-old blocker for at least eight weeks. The Cowboys are hoping the acclaimed snapper can return in weeks rather than months, so this decision could signal the team believes an early-season return is still possible.
Cowboys brass deemed the prospect of a Frederick return within the next eight weeks as being more important than gaining a roster spot at this point, Moore notes. The Guillain-Barre syndrome diagnosis has Frederick on the mend and Joe Looney set to begin the season as the Cowboys’ first-string center.
The Cowboys utilized a similar tactic with Tony Romo in 2016, carrying their then-franchise quarterback on the active roster to start the season despite a diagnosis that stood to keep him out for more than two months.
Frederick traveled with the team to its fourth preseason game, per Moore, and is being tested weekly to determine his progress. Evaluations with a neurologist will occur as Frederick tries to return to the field.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, and Redskins are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Dallas Cowboys
Claimed:
Cut:
Practice squad:
- WR Dres Anderson
- OT Jake Campos
- RB Jordan Chunn
- RB Darius Jackson
- WR Lance Lenoir
- CB Donovan Olumba
- LB Kyle Queiro
- DE Charles Tapper
New York Giants
Claimed:
- WR Kaelin Clay
- DL Mario Edwards
- DB Antonio Hamilton
- DB Michael Jordan
- DB Kamrin Moore
- C Spencer Pulley
Cut:
- TE Jerell Adams
- DT Josh Banks
- CB William Gay
- G John Jerry
- WR Hunter Sharp
- QB Davis Webb
Practice squad:
- LB Avery Moss
- LB Calvin Munson
- WR Alonzo Russell
- WR Jawill Davis
- TE Garrett Dickerson
- DB Grant Haley
- RB Jhurell Pressley
- T Victor Salako
Philadelphia Eagles
Claimed:
Cut:
- LB Joe Walker
Practice squad:
- RB Josh Adams
- CB Chandon Sullivan
- CB De’Vante Bausby
- DT Winston Craig
- LB Asantay Brown
- DE Joe Ostman
- C Jon Toth
- WR Greg Ward Jr.
- WR Rashard Davis
- TE Billy Brown
Washington Redskins
Practice squad:
- RB Kapri Bibbs
- WR Simmie Cobbs
- TE Matt Flanagan
- WR Darvin Kidsy
- DB Kenny Ladler
- LB Cassanova McKinzy
- T Timon Parris
- DL JoJo Wicker
Cowboys Announce Roster Cuts
In addition to releasing veteran kicker Dan Bailey, the Cowboys have made several other moves in order to move their roster to 53 players:
Cut:
- K Dan Bailey
- WR Deonte Thompson
- WR Lance Lenoir Jr.
- WR Darren Carrington
- WR MeKale McKay
- WR K.D. Cannon
- WR Dres Anderson
- OL Kyle Bosch
- OL Matthew Diaz
- OL Chaz Green
- OL Damien Mama
- OL Jacob Ohnesorge
- OL Jake Campos
- TE David Wells
- RB Bo Scarbrough
- RB Darius Jackson
- RB Trey Williams
- RB Jordan Chunn
- CB Marquez White
- CB Duke Thomas
- CB Donovan Olumba
- S Marqueston Huff
- S Kam Kelly
- S Jeron Johnson
- S Dominick Sanders
- LB Eric Pinkins
- LB Tre’Von Johnson
- LB Joel Lanning
- LB Kyle Quiero
- DL Kony Ealy
- DL Lewis Neal
- DL Austin Larkin
- DL Charles Tapper
- DL Jihad Ward
- DL Caruan Reid
- LS Scott Daly
Green, a former third-round pick, has struggled mightily in his effort to become Dallas’ third offensive tackle. Ward, for his part, was acquired in exchange for wide receiver Ryan Switzer earlier this year.
Cowboys Cut K Dan Bailey
The Cowboys have released kicker Dan Bailey, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Bailey has been the Cowboys’ kicker for the last seven years, so the move is a stunner.
With Bailey out of the picture, the Cowboys will move forward with Nebraska product Brett Maher as their place kicker. Maher nailed a 57-yard field goal against the Texans the other night, and that moment may have influenced the Cowboys’ final decision.
Bailey, 30, nailed just 75% of his field goal tries last year, a career low. On the whole, however, he’s been outstanding for Dallas. In 2015, he led the league with a 93.8% field goal completion percentage. He’s also nailed 276 of 278 career extra point tries.
As a vested veteran, Bailey will hit the open market immediately without having to go through waivers.