Cowboys Release Sam Williams, Trim Roster To 53

The Cowboys are officially down to the 53-man limit after Sunday’s roster maneuverings. Here are the players who did not make the cut…

Released:

• WR Tyler Johnson
• CB Derion Kendrick
• C Nick Leverett
• WR Denzel Mims 
• LB Curtis Robinson
• WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
• LB Sam Williams

Waived:

• RB Israel Abanikanda
• LB Justin Barron
• RB Jaydon Blue
• CB Trikweze Bridges
• CB Josh Butler
• S Zion Childress
• RB Jashaun Corbin
• DT Tommy Dunn
• G Chris Glaser
• T Sebastian Gutierrez
• WR Jordan Hudson
• T Marcellus Johnson
• G Trevor Keegan
• TE Zack Kuntz
• LB Isaiah Land
• RB Phil Mafah
• DT Dayo Odeleye
• LB Langston Patterson
• T Shiyazh Pete
• WR Anthony Smith
• WR Jaden Smith
• CB Reddy Steward
• DT Jay Toia
• TE Michael Trigg
• TE Mitch Van Vooren
• G DJ Wingfield
• DT DJ Withers
• S Julius Wood

Waived/injured:

• TE DJ Rogers

Placed on IR (return designation):

• LB Marist Liufau
• CB Devin Moore

Williams is out after four years with the Cowboys, who drafted him 56th overall in 2022. While filling a rotational role during his first two seasons, Williams combined for 16 quarterback hits, 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks over 32 games. Out for all of 2024 after tearing his ACL in training camp, Williams returned to play a full season and earn the first five starts of his career last season. The 27-year-old logged a personal-best 42.82% snap share and notched two TFL, but he only contributed four QB hits and one sack.

Although the Cowboys re-signed Williams for a guaranteed $2MM in March, pass-rushing upgrades through trades, free agency and the draft rendered him expendable several months later. The team will take on his guaranteed money as a dead cap hit.

Like Williams, Steward appeared in every game and totaled five starts in 2025. It didn’t go well for Steward, whom Pro Football Focus ranked as a bottom-15 corner among 112 qualifiers. Steward, who played around 48% of snaps on the league’s worst pass defense, gave up an 80% completion rate and a 99.3 rating as the nearest defender. He finished the year with 63 tackles, including five TFL, three pass breakups and 1.5 sacks. Steward primarily lined up in the slot, a job that now belongs to first-round rookie Caleb Downs.

The Cowboys spent Day 3 picks on Blue (fifth round, Texas) and Mafah (seventh, Clemson) in 2025, but neither contributed much as rookies. Stuck behind bell cow Javonte Williams, Blue ran for 129 yards on 38 attempts (3.4 per try) and one touchdown in five games. Mafah missed all but one game – a Week 18 loss to the Giants – because of a shoulder injury. He rushed for 18 yards and a score on five carries that day.

There is a chance the Cowboys will re-sign Blue to their practice squad if he clears waivers, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Regardless, Dallas will go into the season with Malik Davis as its No. 2 back.

Both Liufau and Moore will be eligible to return to practice in Week 5. Liufau broke his left forearm earlier this week, while Moore is down with a hip injury.