The Dallas Cowboys just dropped their initial 53-man roster, trimming a massive 35 players and moving two more to injured reserve, but the biggest shocker has to be the two “major surprises” they let go. This isn’t just about getting down to a number, this is about shaping the squad for Week 1, and some of these moves are wild, especially knowing it is not 100% settled yet.
The Backfield and Edge Rushers Just Got Wild
Listen, every team makes tough calls, but cutting running back Jaydon Blue and edge rusher Sam Williams? That’s a gut punch. Blue might be a practice squad lock, the source says, but he’s not on the initial 53-man roster. And Sam Williams? Gone from the edge group. These aren’t minor tweaks, these are significant shifts in depth, especially for a team getting ready to hit the ground running. Teams are already scouting other cuts for practice squad additions, so this roster is still very fluid. The front office had to make hard choices from their 90-man camp, and 35 players are now free agents, with Marist Liufau (edge) and Devin Moore (cornerback) on injured reserve with a designated to return tag.
Who Actually Made the Cut?
So, with the dust settling on those major cuts, let’s look at who actually made the initial lineup. At quarterback, they’re rolling with three guys: Dak Prescott, Joe Milton III, and Sam Howell. That’s a deep room right there. Running back, after Blue’s exit, it’s Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, and Hunter Luepke. The wide receiver corps is looking solid with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, Kavontae Turpin, Camden Brown, and Jonathan Mingo. Six wideouts means they are ready to spread the ball around. Tight ends include Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and Luke Schoonmaker, giving them some serious options in the middle of the field. On the offensive line, it is a big group of eight: Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, TJ Bass, Drew Shelton, and Ajani Cornelius. With Sam Williams gone, the edge rushers are Donovan Ezeiruaku, Rashan Gary, Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence, and James Houston. It is a bold move, trimming that talent.
This roster is far from a finished product, not with practice squad signings kicking off Monday, August 31. Every team in the league will be scouring the cut lists, looking to bolster their own squads. Week 1 is right around the corner, and even though this is the initial 53, there’s always a chance for more movement. It is going to be fascinating to see who else gets picked up and how this final roster shakes out for their first game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply