Cowboys release Dontari Poe, Daryl Worley; Zack Martin returns to practice, Xavier Woods absent

The Cowboys are continuing their purge on the defensive side of the ball. Yesterday they traded defensive lineman Everson Griffen for a conditional fifth/sixth-round pick, and today they released two other free agent acquisitions.

Defensive tackle Dontari Poe and cornerback Daryl Worley have both been cut from the team. The Cowboys tried to trade them to get something back in return, but couldn’t find a taker. This continues the decimation of a free agent class that was thought at one time to be a benefit for the Cowboys. Gerald McCoy went down with injury, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was cut before the season, Griffen was traded, and now Poe and Worley have been released.

The Cowboys might be getting some reinforcements this week, but they will likely be absent their second-string quarterback, meaning the third-string rookie might have to go. Andy Dalton did not participate in today’s practice and it’s unlikely he will for the next few days. Earlier today, coach Mike McCarthy indicated that Zack Martin and Chidobe Awuzie are likely to play this week, and he has hope that Joe Looney and Sean Lee could also get back in the lineup. Martin was a full participant today while Awuzie, Looney and Lee are still officially on the injured reserve list.

Xavier Woods had an absence not related to injury today.