:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69770443/usa_today_15144854.0.jpg)
Today was the day for NFL teams to get down to 80 players by 4 PM ET. For most teams, that meant waiving five players as the roster limit was 85. For the Cowboys, the math was a little different. With four players on COVID Reserve, they had to only release one today to get under the limit. They could go ahead and release others if they wanted to, but one person has already been shown the door.
It seems like it was only yesterday that the Dallas Cowboys waived Hunter Niswander with injury and signed his replacement, Lirin Hajrullahu. Today, it’s Hajrullahu being waived.
Cowboys are waiving kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, source said, as they trim to 80-man roster. This is the strongest indicator yet that kicker Greg Zuerlein is on track for Week 1 and will make preseason debut Sunday vs. Jaguars. Zuerlein been on PUP List following back surgery.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 24, 2021
Both Niswander and Hajrullahu were really just placeholders until Greg Zuerlein returned, and it looks like that return will be soon. Zuerlein has been recovering from back surgery but someone will need to kick in the Jacksonville preseason game coming up. Unless punter Bryan Anger is going to take over those duties, it will fall to Zuerlein.
Also it was reported earlier today that Donovan Wilson exited practice early. There was some confusion as to why, but we now know it is a groin injury.
Cowboys SS Donovan Wilson exited practice early due to a sore groin, per source.
— Brianna Dix (@DixBrianna) August 24, 2021