The Dallas Cowboys have finalized their initial 53-man roster, but that doesn’t mean that the roster manuevers are finished. No, not by a long-shot. The initial 53 is called that for a reason, as all NFL clubs are going to be doing a lot of shuffling over the next few days. Teams have released plenty of players they hope to be able to bring back to the fold in some capacity, most notably via the practice squad.
The practice squad is basically a taxi squad that works out with the 53-man roster but generally aren’t allowed to play in the games. They get paid a lot less than normal contracts, and have no guaranteed money. NFL teams can carry up to 16 players on their PS, 17 if one of them is an International Pathway Program exception, and each week they are allowed to elevate two practice squadders to their 46-man gameday roster.
NFL Practice Squad Eligibility Rules
Players who aren’t vested veterans — those with less than four years of accrued service — must clear waivers before a team can add them to the practice squad. Teams who claim players off waivers must add them to their 53-man roster and under the parameters of their current contract.
Vested veterans can sign with anyone they please, including their original team. Spots will be made available for some vets on the 53-man roster once other players are moved over to returnable IR. Teams can return up to 8 players from IR during the regular season, and they can designate two of those during the roster cutdowns.
Dallas designated DE Payton Turner and WR Jonathan Mingo. If they choose not to reactivate either, they get that slot back.
Read: NFL Roster Cuts Tracker
Here’s a list of every Cowboys re-signing or roster adjustment
DE Isaiah Land
Well look who’s back. According to Nicole Hutchinson of DallasCowboys.com, the team is bringing back the former UDFA standout to their practice squad.
DE Dayo Oyedele
The Cowboys have brought on a former edge rusher from Baltimore. Oyedele is a part of the International Pathway Program, meaning he doesn’t count against the 16-man limit. Read more about him here.
Released CB Andrew Booth, Zion Childress from 53-man Roster
To make room for the two waiver claims, the Cowboys released two other corners.
LB Justin Barron
G Saahdiq Charles
T Geron Christian
S Alijah Clark
WR Jalen Cropper
RB Malik Davis
TE Rivaldo Fairweather
TE Princeton Fant
QB Will Grier
CB Kemon Hall
LB Buddy Johnson
CB Robert Rochell
WR Jalen Brooks
Brooks was neck-and-neck with Ryan Flournoy for the WR5 role, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, he lost out for special teams value. Now he’s back in the fold to continue to develop.
ST C.J. Goodwin
The Cowboys added Goodwin to the 53-man roster, indicating they will have need to promote two different players for their game-day roster.
This one wasn’t part of the team’s official announcements, but it’s coming. As expected, the vested veteran will be used to the yo-yo. He’s released at the initial 53, re-signed to the practice squad, and then elevated the first few weeks until those run out and he’s added before Week 4.
DL Earnest Brown
Part of Tuesdays’ confusion over the Perrion Winfrey inclusion in the 53-man roster, Brown lands back with the Cowboys’ taxi squad.
WR Traeshon Holden
The UDFA wideout survives the waiver wire and will continue his career in Dallas after a really strong training camp showing.
Successful Waiver Claims: CBs Trikweze Bridges, Reddy Stewart
Dallas added two cornerbacks to the mix. Read more about them here.
Lost to Waivers: DE Tyrus Wheat (Detroit Lions)
The Cowboys really liked Wheat, but they’ve become ridiculously deep at the position and had to risk losing him, which they have now done.
When was the NFL roster deadline?
The Cowboys, and all 32 NFL teams, had to have their roster trimmed down to 53 players by 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on Tuesday.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys Practice Squad Tracker: Who is back, added to team roster after initial 53
Reporting by K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
