The Dallas Cowboys didn’t have a need to create space on their roster this week, but they did. On Tuesday the club said goodbye to Tarell Basham, a defensive end they signed ahead of the 2021 season and then brought back for 2022. Basham didn’t play much this year so he wasn’t a big loss to the league’s best pass rush, by miles, but it did open up the possibility for the Cowboys to add talent to their 53-man roster. Despite the speculation, Dallas didn’t add anyone this week from either the practice squad or the outside.
Surely then, the Cowboys would use the practice-squad elevation allowances to replenish their strength at edge rush, right? Wrong. On Saturday, the Cowboys announced just one practice squad elevation and it was for the offensive line, not the defensive line. Aviante Collins was called up for the second time, using just one of the two allotments. Instead, Dallas chose not to bring up Takk McKinley, signed to the practice squad a few weeks ago, nor anyone else. Instead of the maximum of 55, Dallas is going into the Week 13 battle with the Indianapolis Colts with just 53 players.
Collins will revert to the practice squad on Monday, and Dallas will still have a space open on the active 53-man roster if they choose to meet with any potential free agent wide receivers. *Stares directly at Odell Beckham, Jr.*
For now, here’s a look at the troops eligible to play against the Colts. With only 53 players, Dallas will need to make just five players inactive on Sunday night.