NFL Meeting Forces Gregory To Miss Practice
- Randy Gregory‘s reinstatement conditions caused him to miss the Cowboys‘ Thursday practice. The defensive end was in Chicago meeting with medical director of the NFL’s substance-abuse program, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (on Twitter). He most recently attended this type of summit during the preseason. The NFL reinstated Gregory this summer after his extensive substance-abuse-induced hiatus. His status for Week 5 doesn’t appear to be in question. Gregory’s played 64 snaps this season.
Latest On Cowboys’ Terrance Williams
Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams was with the Cowboys as they practiced on Thursday morning, but his participation was limited to work on the sidelines with strength coaches, as Clarence E. Hill of the Star Telegram writes. Williams missed the Cowboys’ game over the weekend as well as Wednesday’s practice because of off-the-field issues, but an ailing left foot is currently holding him back. 
Williams isn’t accustomed to missing time. Before missing Sunday’s win over the Lions, Williams had a playing streak of 83 consecutive games dating back to his rookie campaign. And, despite averaging 46 catches and 672 yards in each of his previous seasons, Williams had just two grabs for 18 yards in his three games this season.
Before the foot injury came to light, the biggest issue plaguing Williams was a pending suspension for crashing his car into a pole. Although Williams was not charged with a DUI, it is believed that he was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Now, Williams could be on the verge of being placed on injured reserve, so the suspension would be something of a moot point.
Williams is in the second year of a four-year, $17MM deal and stands as the Cowboys’ priciest receiver. The Cowboys, in theory, can save $2.25MM by releasing him in the offseason, though they would be left with $2.5MM in dead money.
Tony Romo Would Have Only Played For Cowboys
Tony Romo was never going to play for a club other than the Cowboys before retiring last spring, owner Jerry Jones told reporters, including Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link). At one point, teams such as the Broncos and Texans discussed a trade for Romo, but ultimately decided to wait and see if he was released by Dallas. Romo also later admitted that he considered the Jets before hanging up his cleats, but it sounds as though it was Cowboys-or-bust for the veteran signal-caller. Indeed, at least one report last fall indicated Romo would only come out of retirement to play for the Cowboys, but Dak Prescott never suffered any injury that forced Dallas to call its longtime quarterback.
Dez Bryant Wants To Return To Cowboys
If the Cowboys need a wide receiver, Dez Bryant is just a phone call away. When asked about his next landing spot by a fan on Twitter, Bryant replied that his preference would be to re-sign with the Cowboys. If not, however, he says he’ll be “ready to play somewhere else.” 
It appears that time has healed the wounds – at least, on Bryant’s side. After the Cowboys released Bryant at a most inopportune time this offseason, the wide receiver set out to sign with a rival NFC East club so that he could make the Cowboys pay twice in the regular season. That opportunity never came to fruition for the veteran, which may explain why he’s softened his anti-Dallas stance.
The Cowboys’ lack of star power at the wide receiver position has been well-documented, and both Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones have been cordial when discussing Bryant in recent months. Still, as recently as two weeks ago, the younger Jones indicated that the team is not interested in a reunion.
Sources close to Bryant believe that he’ll sign sometime in October, but it’s anyone’s guess as to which team will bite.
Ingram, Edelman To Return In Week 5
As we approach Week 5 of the NFL season, several NFL players are returning from four-game bans. As noted by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), that list includes notables such as Saints running back Mark Ingram, Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving, Chargers defensive tackle Corey Liuget, Colts running back Robert Turbin, Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley, Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith. 
Players do not count against a team’s roster max while suspended, so clubs will have to make room for these players before adding them for Week 5. There will be some tough decisions to make, but the upside is clear in most of these cases, particularly when it comes to offensive weapons like Ingram and Edelman or defensive pillars like Burfict and Irving.
Alvin Kamara should remain the focal point of the Saints’ running game, but the return of Ingram will give opposing defenses something else to think about. And, as we saw in the first three weeks of the Patriots’ season, Edelman has been sorely missed.
Cowboys Demote Terrance Williams; Is Earl Thomas Trade Still On The Table?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that the Seahawks are still asking for a second-round pick for Thomas, and that the Chiefs remain interested (though Kansas City does not want to give up a second-rounder). The Cowboys, of course, offered a second-round pick to Seattle earlier this year, but the Seahawks wanted more from Dallas at the time since the two teams were set to play each other last week. Now that the Cowboys-Seahawks matchup has taken place, perhaps the Seahawks will be more willing to consider the Cowboys’ offer, but Rapoport indicates (video link) that the Seahawks want two second round picks in exchange for Thomas, which seems like an especially lofty asking price.
- Jane Slater of the NFL Network reports that Cowboys WR Terrance Williams will be inactive today, and that the recently re-signed Brice Butler will be leaned upon more heavily as a result (Twitter link). Williams, the most expensive receiver on Dallas’ roster, may be facing a suspension stemming from his May arrest and recently missed practice, though that absence was reportedly an excused one and was unrelated to the possible suspension. Williams, though, has just two catches for 18 yards this season, and the team wants to give someone else a shot.
Williams Had Excused Absence, Nothing Looming
- Terrance Williams recently missed practice, and rumors began circulating online that the Cowboys wideout was facing a suspension, but those rumors are untrue according to Calvin Watkins of The Athletic (Twitter link). Watkins reports that Williams, who has been lightly used this year despite recently signing an extension, was given an excused absence from practice.
Cowboys, Packers Tried To Sign Brian Price
Recently, the Cowboys and Packers both tried to reunite with defensive tackle Brian Price, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. To keep him from being poached from their practice squad, the Browns quadrupled his salary, boosting his pay from $7,600 a week to $37,058 a week. 
Price missed the Cowboys’ final cut this year and subsequently hooked on with the Raiders. But, after the Raiders added interior defensive linemen Johnathan Hankins and Clinton McDonald, he was squeezed out. The Browns signed him to the taxi squad last Friday, and calls from two of his former teams – the Cowboys and Packers – soon followed.
The Browns are leaning on recent additions Carl Davis and Devaroe Lawrence as their reserve defensive tackles behind starters Larry Ogunjobi and Trevon Coley. Both have talent, but neither offers the pedigree of Price, who was on track to be a high draft pick in 2016 before he tossed an official to the ground in a fit of rage. The pay bump for Price indicates that he may not be far off from a promotion to Cleveland’s varsity squad.
Practice Squad Updates: 9/25/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DB Robertson Daniel
- Released: DE Myles Humphrey
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Christian Ringo
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Jerome Cunningham
- Released: RB Donnel Pumphrey
New England Patriots
- Signed: S David Jones
- Released: WR Jace Billingsley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Arrion Springs
- Released: QB J.T. Barrett
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Amba Etta-Tawo
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Ryan Delaire
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Azeem Victor
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Jeremiah Sirles
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DL Caraun Reid
- Placed on IR: DL Datone Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Daeshon Hall (from 49ers’ practice squad)
- Promoted from practice squad: OT David Sharpe
- Placed on IR: LB Dylan Cole, WR Bruce Ellington
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Justin Jackson
- Released from IR: CB Craig Mager
- Waived: RB Detrez Newsome
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Martrell Spaight
- Placed on IR: DE William Hayes
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Jonathan Woodard
- Waived: WR Tanner McEvoy
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Kenjon Barner
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Arrion Springs
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Garrett Dickerson
- Waived/Injured: WR/KR Kaelin Clay
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Branden Jackson
- Waived: TE Darrell Daniels
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Andrew Adams
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: OL Kevin Pamphile