Cowboys Suddenly Terminate Contract of 25-Year-Old Defender

The Dallas Cowboys released cornerback Alex Austin from the practice squad on Tuesday as part of a set of roster moves.

The team simultaneously signed running back Emari Demercado and added guard Nick Leverett to the practice squad, according to the club’s official announcement.

Austin’s time with Dallas was brief. The Cowboys signed the 25-year-old to the practice squad on September 30 amid a wave of injuries in the secondary.

At the time, cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Shavon Revel were dealing with injuries, while safeties including Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, and Jalen Thompson were also sidelined or headed to injured reserve. Austin was one of several defensive backs brought in for workouts that week as the team sought depth.

A seventh-round pick (No. 252 overall) by the Buffalo Bills out of Oregon State in 2023, Austin was waived before his rookie season and claimed by the Houston Texans.

He later spent the bulk of his early career with the New England Patriots, appearing in 29 games with six starts across three seasons.

In that span, he recorded 31 tackles, eight passes defended, and one interception. He also contributed on special teams.

After the Patriots declined to tender him as a restricted free agent, Austin signed with the Miami Dolphins in March 2026 but was waived during final roster cuts in late August. He worked out for the Minnesota Vikings in mid-September before landing with Dallas.

Austin did not appear in any regular-season games for the Cowboys.

He remained on the practice squad and was among the cornerbacks practicing as recently as October 12, according to beat reporting, while several others—including DaRon Bland—were limited or absent amid illness and other issues.

The release comes as the Cowboys sit at 2-3 following a Week 5 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Earlier in October the team acquired Joey Porter Jr. via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers to bolster the secondary.

The move to drop Austin while retaining other practice-squad defensive backs and adding offensive line and running back depth reflects typical midseason roster churn as clubs manage the 16-man practice squad limit and prioritize immediate needs.

Austin is now a free agent and available to sign with another club’s active roster or practice squad.

For Dallas, the focus turns to the upcoming Week 6 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Green Bay Packers on October 18.