Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Miami had multiple free agents in for workouts on Tuesday.
The Miami Dolphins, after losing to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, returned to South Florida where they held tryouts for seven different free agents on Tuesday.
While general manager Chris Grier hasn’t pulled the trigger on any of them yet, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team ink one of them to a deal in the coming days or after the season ends on a futures/reserve contract.
Here’s a quick look at all seven players the Dolphins hosted:
The Mexican-born lineman will no longer have a roster exemption this year, but coaches feel he may have the size and skills to move to DL. | From @ToddBrock24f7
Isaac Alarcón has been a project on the Cowboys offensive line since 2020.
Now the project will take an surprising turn, as the 24-year-old makes a move to the defensive line.
The club announced the switch on Monday, saying that the native-born Mexican impressed while doing some filling in on the scout team defense last season.
Alarcón played for the Mexican national team as well as in college in Monterrey. He was then allocated to the Cowboys in 2020 as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. He has been with the team’s practice squad since, but has yet to see any snaps in a regular-season game.
With three seasons now under his belt, Alarcón is no longer eligible for the roster exemption that the Cowboys have used on him up to now. For him to remain with the Cowboys, the 6-foot-6-inch, 315-pounder will have to earn his spot… playing defense for the first time.
“Issac is a big strong and athletic player and has the physical skill set to play offensive line or defensive line,” said Will McClay, the Cowboys’ VP of player personnel, per the team website. “He did some things on scout team defense toward the end of the season that opened defensive coaches’ eyes to give him a serious look on defense. His time working with the OL will also give him an understanding about what they are trying to do to him on defense.”
Alarcón was featured prominently in 2021’s edition of HBO’s Hard Knocks. He became something of a fan favorite with his own personal backstory, and his mother turned into a minor celebrity of sorts for her overenthusiastic fanning from the stands.
But Alarcón is probably best known for a clip in which he watched from afar as several Cowboys players presented quarterback Dak Prescott with a birthday cake at training camp, longingly muttering, “I wanna try the cake.”
An inside look at the Cowboys’ season on “Hard Knocks,” which starts tonight on HBO. Rookie Micah Parsons to be featured, but director Shannon Furman hopes to show more of established veterans than some “Hard Knocks” seasons of past pic.twitter.com/CNmbMQqnwd https://t.co/5PyD4n4RpL
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 10, 2021
If Alarcón ends up being part of the solution for a Dallas defensive line that needs to step up in 2023- alongside Quinton Bohanna, Neville Gallimore, Osa Odighizuwa, Chauncey Golston, and maybe Johnathan Hankins and Carlos Watkins- he will have earned his own celebratory cake, for sure.
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One of the stars of 2021’s “Hard Knocks,” the Mexican-born lineman could stay with the OL-thin Cowboys by serving on the practice squad. | From @ToddBrock24f7
It’s a long way from Monterrey, Mexico to Dallas.
The road from there to the Dallas Cowboys roster is considerably longer, but Isaac Alarcón appears to still be on it.
The offensive lineman was one of the stars of last summer’s Hard Knocks series on HBO thanks to his hard work, his charismatic family, and his own on-the-field hankering for a piece of Dak Prescott’s birthday cake.
But on Tuesday, the Cowboys officially waived Alarcón as they trimmed the roster to 53 active players.
Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports, however, that the Cowboys, who are heading into the regular season with a severe lack of depth along the offensive line, plan to sign Alarcón to the practice squad on Wednesday, keeping him stashed away in case of emergency for a third year.
Cowboys OL Isaac Alarcon avoided a major setback when injuring his right ankle in last Friday's preseason win vs. Seahawks. After being waived today, he is expected to be signed Wednesday to practice squad, person close to situation said. NFL journey for Mexico native continues. pic.twitter.com/Cn7guyyCgf
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 30, 2022
As part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program beginning in 2020, Alarcón was allowed to practice and train with the Cowboys while not counting against any of the team’s roster limits. That two-year exemption has ended, but the 6-foot-6-inch 24-year-old has demonstrated enough progress this offseason to apparently warrant a practice squad spot on his own merit.
“He’s doing great,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said of him in early August. “I think the thing that you appreciate about him is just all the extra work that he’s done. I just recall my first year with him. Where he is today, he’s made tremendous strides. He’s done a great job with his body; his strength and conditioning has been exemplary. He’s definitely going to be competing in the preseason games, and he’s done a great job.”
Alarcón played 22 snaps against Denver in the preseason opener and just nine snaps the next week versus the Chargers. After 33 snaps in the Cowboys’ preseason finale against Seattle, he suffered an ankle injury and left the field early.
But it seems that despite being left off the 53-man roster, he won’t be leaving the team entirely.
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Winning isn’t everything, especially in the preseason. With roster cuts looming, injuries in Friday’s win against Seattle could impact moves the club has to make. From @ProfessorO_NFL
The Dallas Cowboys pulled out a gutsy win against the Seattle Seahawks in week 3 of the 2022 preseason. While the win was nice, one of the main objectives of training camp and preseason is to walk away as healthy as possible.
The Cowboys had fared well in avoiding injuries through their first two preseason games but were not as fortunate tonight. Already dealing with losing their starting left tackle, Tyron Smith, earlier in the week, the Cowboys suffered a slew of injuries against the Seahawks.
With a final roster cutdown from 80 players to 53 looming around the corner, the status of these injuries may have ripple effects that change the decision making of who’s in and who’s out.
Here’s an updated injury report from week 3 based on what we know right now.
Cowboys offensive lineman Isaac Alarcon was escorted to the locker room after a right-foot injury late in the final preseason contest. | From @CDBurnett7
Ever since the Cowboys were featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks in 2021, offensive lineman Isaac Alarcon has been a fan favorite for his charisma and relationship with his family. A member of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, Alarcon has spent the last two seasons with Dallas on a reserve/future contract as well as on the practice squad.
Alarcon has seen a multitude of snaps in the preseason as he continues to develop the skill alongside his towering 6-foot-5, 315 pound stature. Taking over at left guard against Seattle, Alarcon suffered a right foot injury and reached the sideline on his own before going to the locker room.
Cowboys OL Isaac Alarcon just walked to locker room, a towel draped over his head, with an apparent right foot injury. Mexico native, who was featured on HBO's Hard Knocks, is a popular player among teammates. Worked hard to develop on International Player Pathway Program.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 27, 2022
Alarcon’s night is likely over and the severity of the injury is still unknown. The 24-year-old is on contract through the 2023 season.
Will there be a shift in Prescott’s representation in the next round of negotiations? Where does Elliott fit in McCarthy’s O?
New Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy has a three-headed monster at wide receiver but reiterated on Friday his stance from when he first got hired what Ezekiel Elliott’s role would be. Dak Prescott’s agent Todd France has parted ways with CAA and it could affect future contract negotiations if the Cowboys signal-caller stays with the agency.
The Cowboys filled several holes defensively through the NFL Draft, but just how much will they be able to contribute in Year 1? Antwaun Woods signed his ERFA tender, but with several additions at defensive tackle through free agency and the draft, will he be the odd man out? How an aggressive offense will help the Cowboys defense, whether or not the 2020 season is Sean Lee’s last, and how Isaac Alarcon Garcia used the NFL’s International Player Pathway program in Florida to make it to the pros are covered in the news and notes.
Mike McCarthy has all the tools offensively to help the Cowboys revamped defense be successful this season.
Trevon Diggs, Neville Gallimore, Bradlee Anae, and Reggie Robinson bring youth and versatility to the Cowboys defense, but how much will it help in 2020?
CAA Sports and powerful NFL agent Todd France have confirmed to @SBJSBD that they have mutually agreed to part ways.
— Liz Mullen (@SBJLizMullen) August 7, 2020
After having surgery to remove a benign cyst in his back Isaac Alarcon used the NFL’s International Player Pathway program to make it to the pros.
Could over a decade of abuse on his body mean the 2020 season is Sean Lee’s swan song?
The current COVID-19 pandemic has halted the start of Mike McCarthy’s coaching tenure in Dallas. Now, with new safety protocols in place, he’s trying to keep his new team together as much as possible.
New head coach Mike McCarthy talks about Amari Cooper’s three 1,000-yard receiver comment, working with Kellen Moore, and how Ezekiel Elliott will be a primary focus this season.
Danny Phantom breaks down how with the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in league history Emmitt Smith should be considered is the greatest running back of all-time.
After adding Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, and Neville Gallimore to the defensive line will there be enough snaps for Antwaun Woods?
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