The Cowboys made a few roster moves today, mostly due to the injury to rookie, and surprising starter, left guard Bill Nagy. Now on injured reserve after suffering a fractured ankle, the Cowboys have some new worries for the offensive line and are in need of a starting left guard for the remainder of the season. While Derrick Dockery would like to return to practice, most believe he will be out another week or two as he continues to recover from a sprained knee and fractured tibia.
The Cowboys brought in three offensive linemen for tryouts and ended up signing two of them. One is a familiar face, and Montrae Holland will have another opportunity to win a starting job with the Cowboys. Hopefully he has continued his conditioning workouts while a free agent and is in better shape than when he left valley Ranch. The Cowboys also signed journeyman and Texas-native Daniel Loper. As reported by Todd Archer:
Loper, a Texas Tech-ex, was the second player the Cowboys signed after a Tuesday workout at Valley Ranch, joining Montrae Holland. The Cowboys have 10 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster and five wide receivers.
Loper, 6-6, 320 pounds, has started nine of 58 games over six seasons with Tennessee, Detroit and Oakland. He was a fifth-round pick of the Titans in 2005.
In what I found a surprising move, the Cowboys released rookie Dwayne Harris to make room on the 53-man roster. Certainly Laurent Robinson bolstered the wide receiver depth chart, but with two kickers and backup players like Alex Albright still on the roster, it is a little surprising that a draft pick who has contributed as both a returner and receiver was released instead. However, there is some good news for Harris since he is still eligible for the practice squad if he clears the waiver wire.
For David Arkin supporters, myself included, the addition of two more guards could be a sign the team thinks the fourth-round draft pick will need more time to learn and develop before seeing the field.