The Cowboys are beefing up an offensive area of concern for the regular season stretch run, including Saturday against the Detroit Lions, and for the playoffs. But to do it, they’re cutting depth on the defensive side.
The club waived linebacker Rashaan Evans on Wednesday and activated offensive lineman Matt Waletzko from injured reserve. Evans has an interesting potential path back to the roster.
Waletzko, a 24-year-old swing tackle who was a fifth-round draft pick out of North Dakota in 2022, suffered a shoulder injury during the preseason and had his 21-day practice window opened on Dec. 6. The 6-foot-8 Waletzko appeared in just three games last year as a rookie before an issue with his other shoulder forced him to injured reserve.
Left tackle Tyron Smith missed another game in Week 16. His backup, Chuma Edoga, and right tackle Terence Steele have struggled at times this season. Waletzko has impressed when healthy enough to play or practice; his considerable size may come in handy for a unit that’s allowed 14 sacks over the past four outings.
The @dallascowboys released LB Rashaan Evans and activated OT Matt Waletzko from Reserve/Injured on Wednesday.
— Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) December 27, 2023
Evans joined the Cowboys practice squad as a free agent in October and after being elevated the maximum three times, he was added to the active roster in mid-November.
NFL rules state that if a player reaches his maximum of three elevations and is then added to the active roster, he can get the elevation counter reset and rejoin the practice squad if he clears waivers.
So if no other team wants Evans, for themselves or simply to handcuff a fellow playoff contender, he could be back on the Cowboys and active again for the Week 17 game against Detroit.
The sixth-year veteran has appeared in nine games, amassing 71 defensive snaps and logging nine tackles. He also played 79 snaps on special teams.
The linebacker position has been tough for Dallas in 2023. Leighton Vander Esch was lost to a midseason injury that some fear may be career-ending. Third-round draft pick DeMarvion Overshown went down for the year with a preseason injury.
Damone Clark has seen heavy usage as a result, but the 2022 fifth-round pick out of LSU has been hit-or-miss with his production.
With Evans gone, Tyrus Wheat, Malik Jefferson and Buddy Johnson are the team’s other options at linebacker; the latter two are on the practice squad.
Here’s a look at the club’s full 53-man roster and 16-man practice squad, noting which of the PS guys still have elevations remaining to try and help the team get win No. 11 against Detroit on Saturday night.