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Note: We have moved to a new tracker, you can find it here. All Cowboys roster moves made after the initial 53-man roster (Sept. 2nd and later) will be found there. If you want to keep up on the latest roster moves, go here.
It’s officially 53-man roster time. Here is BTB’s official Dallas Cowboys cut tracker.
Important Information
NFL rules state the each team must have their rosters trimmed down to 53 players by Saturday, September 1st at 4pm ET. Things won’t necessarily be “set” at that time as there could be other moves made (someone placed on injured reserve for example), but it’s still a deadline.
The Cowboys could very well put in some claims for players that were released by other teams, and the window for that closes on Sunday, September 2nd at 12pm ET. After the waiver process slows down the Cowboys will start filling out their practice squad. You can refresh yourself on the practice squad rules right here.
List of Cowboys cuts
(You can also view other NFL cuts right here)
September 1, 4:15 pm ET: The full list of cuts are in, and surprisingly Dan Bailey is among them. From ESPN’s Todd Archer.
K Dan Bailey, WR Dres Anderson, G Kyle Bosch, T Jake Campos, WR K.D. Cannon, WR Darren Carrington, RB Jordan Chunn, LS Scott Daly, T Matt Diaz, DE Kony Ealy, T Chaz Green, RB Darius Jackson, S Jeron Johnson, LB Tre’von Johnson, S Kam Kelly, LB Joe Lanning, DE Austin Larkin, WR Lance Lenoir, G Damien Mama, WR Mekale McKay, DT Lewis Neal, C Jacob Ohnesorge, CB Donovan Olumba, LB Eric Pinkins, LB Kyle Queiro, DT Caraun Reid, S Dominick Sanders, RB Bo Scarbrough, DE Charles Tapper, CB Duke Thomas, WR Deonte Thompson, DT Jihad Ward, TE David Wells, CB Marquez White; Waived/injured: RB Trey Williams, S Marqueston Huff.
September 1, 4:00 pm ET: There are going to be three quarterbacks on the Cowboys this season (more here). Also we have our first surprising cut as Deonte Thompson did not make the team.
Veteran WR Deonte Thompson did not make the Cowboys' 53-man roster
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 1, 2018
The Cowboys are keeping three quarterbacks. Rookie Mike White made the 53-man roster.
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 1, 2018
September 1, 2:50 pm ET: Another cornerback has been cut. Donovan Olumba is out. Also apparently the Cowboys are only rolling with two running backs as Darius Jackson has been released as well (our own Tom Ryle explained what could be happening here).
For now, the Cowboys are going with two tailbacks in Ezekiel Elliott and Rod Smith on their 53-man roster with the release of seventh-round pick Bo Scarbrough and Darius Jackson, according to sources. Either runner could be back on the practice squad if... https://t.co/aKECaUEcAb
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 1, 2018
Cowboys release CB Donovan Olumba.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) September 1, 2018
So White, Thomas, Olumba, and Kelly all released.
September 1, 2:45 pm ET: There is quite the news to report. Jihad Ward has been released (more on that if you’d like) and RICO GATHERS IS ON THE TEAM (for real).
It wasn’t a great morning for #Cowboys TE Rico Gathers, who was arrested for marijuana possession. That said, I’m told he’s on the 53-man roster as of now. https://t.co/r3iuqEV5xl
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018
Cowboys have released Jihad Ward.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) September 1, 2018
September 1, 2:25 pm ET: Things are starting to heat up, but not for a couple of players. Duke Thomas and Bo Scarbrough are the latest releases of the Cowboys. You can read our story on Scarbrough right here.
Cowboy cut RB Bo Scarbrough, according to a source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 1, 2018
Source: Cowboys are releasing cornerback Duke Thomas
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 1, 2018
September 1, 2:15 pm ET: This was a bad moment in time for a few defensive backs. Marqueston Huff, Marquez White, and Jeron Johnson are all out.
The Cowboys are releasing safety Jeron Johnson, according to a source. He was signed two weeks ago in part because of his background with Kris Richard in Seattle.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 1, 2018
Source: Cowboys are releasing cornerback Marquez White. Dallas drafted him in the sixth round in 2016. He spent last year on the practice squad
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 1, 2018
Source: Cowboys are releasing safety Marqueston Huff
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 1, 2018
September 1, 2:10pm ET: This is a moment many were waiting for but ultimately dreaded. Wide receiver Lance Lenoir has been released. Could this mean Deonte Thompson is in? We’ll have to wait and see. Read our story on Lance being cut right here.
Cowboys are releasing WR Lance Lenoir, who came close to making final roster & team would like back on practice squad
— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) September 1, 2018
September 1, 1:45 pm ET: Charles Tapper is the latest cut. It was never going to be easy for any fringe pass rusher to make this team considering how deep the Cowboys are. Our full story is here.
The #Cowboys are releasing DE Charles Tapper, source said. If he clears waivers, likely headed to the practice squad.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2018
September 1, 10:55 am ET: Rico Gathers arrested for marijuana possession on Friday night.
Not exactly a roster cut, but carrying around marijuana - much less getting busted for possession - has got to have you wondering about Gathers’ commitment to making it in the NFL. Hard to see how there’s room for Rico Gathers on team trying desperately to get Randy Gregory “right.” Our full story is right here.
This is not the way to go about making an NFL roster. Rico Gathers was already on the bubble, this may have burst it for him.
Jerry Jones hinted that Rico could make the 53-man roster on Friday afternoon. Hours later Rico Gathers was arrested for marijuana possession. That is, well, it is not good. The Cowboys were seemingly leaning in the Rico direction in the eleventh hour of roster trimming and then this happens.
We’ve confirmed @dallascowboys TE and former #Baylor basketball star Rico Gathers was arrested overnight for marijuana possession on Friday night, according to Frisco Police. #NFL
— David Smoak (@DavidSmoak) September 1, 2018
September 1, 10:15 am ET: Chaz Green and Kam Kelly are the latest Cowboys releases. Read our full story on Chaz right here.
Chaz Green, a third-round pick in 2015, is among the Cowboys’ cuts, according to sources. Green opened last season as the starter at left guard but was replaced by Jonathan Cooper after three games. He gave up four sacks in his lone start at left... https://t.co/uyWYVZ5tDs
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 1, 2018
Agent Damarius Bilbo confirms the Cowboys have released DB Kameron Kelly.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) September 1, 2018
September 1, 9:40 am ET: A cut that happened while many across the country were kicking off their first high school games of the season, the Cowboys have moved on from Tre’von Johnson.
Cowboys are releasing LB Tre'von Johnson.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) September 1, 2018
August 31, 9:30 pm ET: Rumors continue to swirl about Earl Thomas.
This is called “Seattle is bluffing to get Dallas to improve their unsatisfactory offer” 101. https://t.co/t5oWCLOWlP
— Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) September 1, 2018
In considering a piece of media, it is always good practice to ask the question “who benefits?”
So given that Seattle and Dallas have not talked Earl Thomas since the draft, the question is: “Who profits from keeping news about the Cowboys and Earl Thomas in the headlines?”
Bob Sturm may be on the right track, but you also have to consider that media members are increasingly putting stuff out there simply to have their own name in the news.
August 31, 6:10 pm ET: Looks like the Cowboys might keep both backup QBs, at least according to Stephen Jones.
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones speaking highly of both Cooper Rush and Mike White on @1053thefan. Sounds like keeping 3 QBs is still very possible
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 31, 2018
Three QBs plus a fourth TE in Rico Gathers? That would mean the Cowboys have to go short at some other positions ...
August 31, 5:05 pm ET: In the wake of Kony Ealy’s release, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reflects on the quality of the Cowboys’ defensive line.
There was a time not long ago that Kony Ealy would have been pushing for a starting job on the Cowboys defensive line, not released 24 hours before the cut to 53 players. The upgrade in talent at this position the last 4 years is dramatic.
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) August 31, 2018
August 31, 4:40 pm ET: Important reminder - the Cowboys have 19th overall priority on waiver wire. If the Cowboys want to grab a player off waivers, they’ll need a lot of luck to succeed.
The claiming period for players placed on waivers during the final cuts to the 53-man rosters across the league will expire at 12:00 noon EST on Sunday. If the Cowboys have put in any waiver claims, they face long odds of being awarded the players they claimed.
Once a club waives a player, the 31 other clubs either file a claim to obtain him or they waive their chance to do so (thus the origin of the term “waiver”). Clubs are assigned players on a priority basis.
From the first business day after the Super Bowl until the day after the third regular season week, assignments are based on a claiming order that is the same as the order in which clubs selected in that year’s Draft. From the beginning of the fourth regular season weekend through the Super Bowl, assignments are based on the inverse order of their win-loss record.
August 31, 4:25 pm ET: Looks like linebacker Eric Pinkins is going to be released.
Source: Cowboys waiving LB/S Eric Pinkins.
— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) August 31, 2018
Not many people expected Pinkins to make the roster in the first place, but the writing was on the wall after Pinkins played just 16 snaps on defense over the four preseason games.
August 31, 4:00 pm ET: Per reports, Kony Ealy and Lewis Neal are the first known Cowboys cuts.
Both Ealy and Lewis got some extended playing time against the Texans last night, with Ealy notching 45 snaps on defense and Neal getting 25. Perhaps they put enough on film to quickly get some interest from other teams.
Cowboys are releasing DE Kony Ealy, source says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 31, 2018
In addition to Kony Ealy, the Cowboys have released DT Lewis Neal.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) August 31, 2018
Both players should find work shortly.
August 31: Jerry Jones is dropping hints (full story here), but whether they mean anything is anybody’s guess.
#Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tells @1053thefan they believe they can use Rico Gathers to help them win ballgames.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) August 31, 2018
Jerry Jones on @1053thefan all but confirms Deonte Thompson is making the 53-man roster.
— Connor Livesay (@ConnorNFLDraft) August 31, 2018
August 31: We’re not saying that it’s going to happen, but just maybe?
Oh, is there a particular trade Cowboys people are waiting for?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2018
August 30th: The Cowboys traded cornerback Charvarius Ward to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for offensive lineman Parker Ehinger on Thursday just before their preseason finale in Houston. Dallas was looking for more depth on the offensive line and they got it.