Cowboys roster move: Dallas waives defensive end Bradlee Anae after playing 11 games with team

The Dallas Cowboys went undefeated in the month of October and the hope is that their winning ways continue all the way into February. Tuesday marked the NFL’s trade deadline for the season, and to the surprise of no one, the Cowboys didn’t make any big moves.

Much of the reason for Dallas’ inactivity on the trade market is due to the fact that they have a number of players still set to return from injury. The likes of Michael Gallup, DeMarcus Lawrence, Neville Gallimore, and Trysten Hill will all merit roster spots when they are ready, and so it is going to be difficult enough for Dallas to find ways to fit them in.

Last week saw the return and the first NFL action for the team’s second-round pick in Kelvin Joseph. It is possible that Michael Gallup could be ready to return officially this week, and if he does the Cowboys will need one of those roster spots.

Just where is it going to come from? On Tuesday the Cowboys found a way.

The Dallas Cowboys have waived second-year defensive end Bradlee Anae

While Dallas did win on Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings it was a victory that went down to the wire. Three of the points that Minnesota had at their end came on a drive that was kept alive when the Vikings punted but the Cowboys were offsides. Second-year defensive end Bradlee Anae was the guilty Cowboys party.

Whether it be partly due to that, partly due to roster spots becoming necessary, or partly due to the fact that this team simply hasn’t found a way to get Anae on the field, on Tuesday the Cowboys waived him. They also officially placed Jabril Cox on injured reserve.

Obviously as he is subject to waivers it is possible that Bradlee Anae winds up back with the Cowboys, but it is likely that other teams had high draft grades on him as he was highly-touted leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft (although he did last to the fifth round).

Even if this particular roster adjustment was made for (hypothetically speaking) someone like Michael Gallup, the reality exists that the Cowboys are going to get their best defensive end back soon in DeMarcus Lawrence, so trading Bradlee Anae for him isn’t exactly a discussion or a debate. Another spot on the roster was created by placing Jabril Cox on injured reserve, but the Cowboys will need another linebacker to replace him.

All told, Anae played in 11 games for the Cowboys. All the best to him wherever he winds up.