The wake of the wave of waives has now subsided, and the Dallas Cowboys are going to have to release a player from their newly formed 53-man roster. There’s a reason why we title it “initial” instead of “final” because the regular season roster remains a fluid collection that changes based on a myriad of factors.
Players who were waived or released yesterday are available to be signed or claimed by any of the other 32 teams, and the Cowboys made a move to secure someone discarded by another team, and also lost one player they may have been planning to bring back to their practice squad. 2019 fifth-round pick DE Joe Jackson was claimed by the Cleveland Browns, and the Cowboys brought in former Packers receiver Malik Turner.
Cowboys have claimed former Packers WR Malik Turner.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 6, 2020
The only player whom the Cowboys waived in recent days to be claimed by another team was DE Joe Jackson. He's headed to Browns. All other cut players are eligible to return to Cowboys via their 16-man practice squad (plus a 17th spot for OT Isaac Alarcón as exemption).
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 6, 2020
All other players with three or less years experience cleared waivers, including LB Francis Bernard, meaning Dallas is free to add them to their 16-man practice squad if they wish.
[Read our cut tracker and practice squad/waiver wire rule breakdown here]
Turner had been with the Packers less than a month, signed in mid-August. He had previously tried out for Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy during Green Bay’s 2018 rookie minicamp but didn’t latch on. He eventually landed in Seattle where he had 15 catches for 245 yards in 2019. His primary role though will be as a special teamer. He played 184 ST snaps in 2019, appearing on kick coverage and both return units.
The 6-foot-2, 202 pound former Illini from the University of Illinois was originally undrafted.
The Seahawks rescinded their exclusive rights to the free agent in April. He had a 68.2 catch percentage and averaged 16.3 yards per reception in 2019, so there may be some upside as a receiver beyond what he can do on teams.
Under those same qualifications for receivers with 20 or less receptions, the 24-year old Turner generated the third-highest receiver rating (120.5) and the sixth-most yards after catch (105) in 2019, according to Sports-Info-Solutions.com. – Seahawks Maven
As for Jackson, he was yet another member of Jason Garrett’s final draft class who won’t contribute much to the Cowboys. He was a longshot to be with the club considering the free agent depth they had acquired and the new regime picking up Bradlee Anae in the fifth round of this year’s draft. The reinstatement of Randy Gregory made his future even more perilous even with Gregory not eligible to be activated until Week 7.
Neither CB Michael Jackson (5th round) nor RB Mike Weber (7th) made it through their rookie years with Dallas. Fellow DE Jalen Jelks (7th) was released earlier in the offseason. Trysten Hill (2nd round), Connor McGovern (3rd), Tony Pollard (4th) and Donovan Wilson (6th) remain out of the 8 picks.
The team reportedly has plans to move LB Sean Lee and RT La’el Collins to IR, which will free up roster spots for at least the first three weeks of the season. Those transactions will open up two spots on the 53-man roster.
There was also a thought the team could look to make moves on WR Ventell Bryant, LB Luke Gifford and or CB Jourdan Lewis, but nothing has been announced in those regards.
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