Former Cowboys defensive lineman signs with AFC team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Feb 17, 2026 7:40 PM ET

Jerry Jones watched on as the Dallas Cowboys struggled to find much of a rhythm during the 2025 NFL season.

Under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys finished with a 7-9-1 record, missing out on the playoffs for a second straight year.

While quarterback Dak Prescott led one of the top offenses in the league, a majority of Dallas’ problems stemmed from the defensive side of the ball. The unit allowed 377.0 total yards per game, 251.5 passing yards and 30.1 points per game, all ranking among the bottom three in the NFL.

But heading into the 2026 season, the Cowboys will also be without a defensive tackle.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at training camp.Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Earnest Brown spent four seasons playing college football with the Northwestern Wildcats before he was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 174 pick in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. During his three years with the Rams, the defensive tackle appeared in 12 games, totaling 14 tackles and 1.5 stuffs.

Following the 2023 NFL season, Brown had short stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining the Cowboys in 2025. While he did not appear in any games for Dallas this past season, unable to crack the 53-man roster, Brown did spend the entire regular season on the practice squad.

But on Tuesday, Brown decided it was time for another change, signing with the Tennessee Titans and leaving Jones and the Cowboys without some defensive line depth they desperately need.

"Former Cowboys DT Earnest Brown has signed with the Tennessee Titans," The Star-Telegram's Nick Harris wrote on X. "Reunites with Aaron Whitecotton after narrowly missing out on making the 53-man roster coming out of training camp."

Former Cowboys DT Earnest Brown has signed with the Tennessee Titans. Reunites with Aaron Whitecotton after narrowly missing out on making the 53-man roster coming out of training camp.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) February 17, 2026

Jones and the Cowboys will now turn their attention to free agency, which officially opens on March 11, eyeing a return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2023 season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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