Dolphins Claim Julius Wood Off Waivers From Cowboys

FRISCO, Texas — The Miami Dolphins claimed safety Julius Wood off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys, according to the league’s waiver report Monday. Claims processed at noon CT.

Miami claimed 7 players, more than any other team. Twenty-nine players were claimed across the league. Along with Wood, the Dolphins were awarded quarterback Brady Cook from the New York Jets, tight end Justin Joly and defensive back Reese Taylor from the Denver Broncos, defensive back Marcellas Dial from the New England Patriots, offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick from the Kansas City Chiefs, and offensive tackle Jarrett Kingston from the Houston Texans. Miami has to make 7 corresponding moves to fit them on the roster. The Dolphins set the youngest initial 53-man roster in the league on Sunday, Pro Football Talk reported.

Cook started 4 games for the Jets as an undrafted rookie last season and went 88-of-153 for 739 yards with 2 touchdowns and 7 interceptions across 5 appearances.

Wood was one of 28 players Dallas waived Sunday. The Cowboys released 7 more to reach 53.

He was in the concussion protocol earlier in the week and remained in it leading into the preseason finale. However, Wood played against the New Orleans Saints on Friday at AT&T Stadium and teamed with Markquese Bell on a first-quarter tackle of running back Audric Estime.

The Dallas Cowboys’ Safety Room Without Julius Wood

Dallas kept 6 safeties. P.J. Locke, Caleb Downs, Bell, Malik Hooker, Jalen Thompson, and Alijah Clark are on the initial 53. Safety Zion Childress and cornerback Reddy Steward were also waived Sunday.

This is the second time a team has claimed Wood off waivers from Dallas at final cuts. The Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent out of East Carolina on May 9, 2024, waived him on Aug. 27 that summer, and lost him to the Tennessee Titans a day later.

Wood wore No. 24 in Tennessee and played 9 games as a rookie. He made 2 tackles, 1 solo and 1 assisted. He was on the field for 5 defensive snaps and 115 on special teams. That was 45% of the Titans’ special teams plays.

On Dec. 3, 2024, the NFL suspended Wood six games without pay for violating the performance-enhancing substances policy. The suspension covered Tennessee’s final five games that season and the first game of 2025. The Titans waived him on Aug. 25, 2025, and the league lifted the penalty once Week 1 passed.

Dallas signed Wood to the practice squad on Oct. 7, 2025. He did not play in a game. He signed a reserve/future contract on Jan. 6 and wore No. 32 through spring and summer.

Julius Wood At Blinn College And East Carolina

Wood, who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 193 pounds, turned 25 in May. He spent two seasons at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, before transferring to East Carolina in 2021.

During his three seasons with the Pirates, he played in 37 games and started 24, with all starts occurring consecutively at the end of his career. He led East Carolina in tackles in both 2022 (87) and 2023 (86). He also recorded 4 interceptions, returning one 47 yards for a touchdown against Memphis in October 2022. In that game, he made 11 tackles and earned the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor. In 2023, he was named first-team All-AAC.

Practice squads open at 5 p.m. CT Monday. Dallas opens the regular season Sept. 13 at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.