The Cowboys are adding to their roster of linebackers after recently missing out on keeping one of their own in the building.
Dallas has signed Mikel Jones to the practice squad. The 22-year-old out of Syracuse went undrafted in the spring but spent this summer in camp with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The move comes after the Cowboys’ attempt last week to place Devin Harper on the practice squad backfired. Harper, a sixth-round draft pick by the club in 2022, was waived on Sept. 28 in order to create room on the active roster for help at center in the form of Brock Hoffman. The plan had been to bring Harper back after clearing waivers, but he was claimed by Cincinnati before that could happen.
Harper’s departure left Malik Jefferson as the only linebacker on the Cowboys’ practice squad. The team brought in three players for workouts on Tuesday and ultimately signed Jones.
After this moment, we knew that Mikel Jones was in for a special season 💪🍊 #cuse pic.twitter.com/1MwmHmYZL1
— Playmaker Syracuse (@PlaymakerCuse) February 21, 2023
With the Orange, Jones was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2021 and led the conference in solo tackles. The following season, he was named a team captain, appeared on several watch lists for collegiate linebackers, and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award.
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At six feet tall and 226 pounds, he fits the same physical profile as Harper and will be another piece for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to work with in a dangerously thin LB corps.
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