Rookie running back Phillip Tanner has been placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, Josh Ellis reports on dallascowboys.com.
Tanner didn't see a lot of action this year, getting 22 carries for 76 yards, a rushing TD and two receptions for 19 yards. With Felix Jones back to full health, the Cowboys moved Tanner to IR for the remaining four regular season games and freed up a roster spot.
To fill the spot, the Cowboys called up wide receiver Andre Holmes. Holmes had been expected to be called up earlier this week but strained a hamstring on Wednesday. Josh Ellis speculates that Holmes may have been receiving interest from another team, and the Cowboys called him up to protect his rights.
Holmes had a pre-draft visit at Valley Ranch back in April, but initially signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He joined the Cowboys' practice squad at the start of the regular season.
Holmes, an intriguing small-school prospect from Hillsdale College was invited to the Combine where he was measured at 6-foot-4 and weighed in at 210 pounds (the Cowboys officially list him as 6-5, 208). He ran a 4.53 40, ran a strong three-cone drill in 6.69 and had the third best broad jump of all receivers at the Combine.
The small-school standout had a record-setting season in 2010, recording the most productive season of any wide receiver in the 119-year history of Hillsdale College football, setting school records for receptions (104), and receiving yards (1,368) and catching 11 touchdown passes in the process.
Prior to the draft, The Sporting News said Holmes "jumped off the film" and is a big play threat:
Holmes is a tall receiver with explosive quickness and home-run speed who can turn short passes into big plays. He was more consistent in '10, making big plays in key situations. He certainly will be at least a late-round pick, but he could fly up boards in the spring with some standout pre-draft workouts.
While Holmes doesn't have elite straight line speed, he is very fast for his size and he certainly has an intriguing vertical ability. His 6.69 three cone drill shows excellent quickness for a player his size. Holmes could be a significant addition for the Cowboys' red zone packages, particularly with three months under the tutelage of wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson.