Cowboys Activate DT Jonathan Bullard

Originally a third-round pick out of Florida, Bullard failed to live up to his draft stock near the start of his career in Chicago. He didn’t even make it to the end of his rookie contract after failing to make the Bears’ 53-man roster in his fourth year. Bullard was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals, and in Arizona, he got his first opportunity at a significant role. After making five starts in his first three seasons, Bullard started six of nine game appearances on the Cardinals’ defensive line.

Injuries limited Bullard in his first significant role, though, and they would continue doing so over his next two years in Seattle and Atlanta. In 2022, he landed a deal with the Vikings and started seven of 12 games before injuries landed him on IR once again. Minnesota liked what they saw in Bullard, though, and ended up re-signing him to two more one-year contracts. Over those next two seasons, Bullard appeared in every game, starting all but three, and logged three sacks, 10 tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, three batted balls, and one forced fumble.

He signed with the Saints last year and saw a reduced role in which he was a starter for only six of 15 contests. He signed with Dallas in free agency this year, continuing his NFC streak and joining an unfamiliar group that added Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark last year. Williams and Clark have manned the line on the team’s first-team defense with Bullard and Otito Ogbonnia rotating in and Elijah Garcia and rookie fourth-rounder LT Overton as depth. Bullard’s return to the line should provide a strong boost to the group.

Joining Bullard and Mitchell on the active roster will be running back Israel Abanikanda and cornerback Derion Kendrick. As standard gameday practice squad elevations, they will revert back to the taxi squad after this week’s game, while Mitchell will remain on the active roster.