The Dallas Cowboys got themselves busy ahead of Week 18 and the playoffs by adding and releasing multiple players from the practice squad.
Most notably, former Cowboys OL La'el Collins and LB Damien Wilson are rejoining the team to provide depth at the team's thinnest positions. While they're not game-changing additions, it helps relieve some of the concerns around both offensive line and linebacker depth.
The Cowboys also added WR Racey McMath and RB SaRodorick Thompson, per the Dallas Morning News. Any of them can be called up to the active roster in Week 18 or the playoffs.
The corresponding moves have also been reported and it's the following four players who are out of the picture in Dallas:
- WR Martavis Bryant
- WR Tyron Billy-Johnson
- OL Adam Pankey
- DT Willington Previlon
Bryant, an NFL veteran who signed with the Cowboys after being reinstated from a 2018 suspension, was added as a low-risk, high-reward gamble. Best case scenario, the Cowboys could've called on him in case of an injury at wide receiver. Worst case scenario, he never got on the field and no one was hurt.
Bryant and Billy-Johnson were likely two of the odd men out given they're veterans, and the Cowboys can only keep six in the 16-man practice squad per NFL rules. With Collins and Wilson joining the squad, two veterans had to be cut.
The Cowboys likely hope to not capitalize on any of their recent practice squad additions in the sense that they're aiming for a healthy roster in the postseason. But in the NFL, you gotta continually prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Collins in particular is an interesting addition as he suffered a season-ending injury late in the 2022 season, which contributed to the Cincinnati Bengals' decision to let him go. But Collins has played left guard and right tackle in his career and could be an upside signing for Dallas.
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