Tag: Jalen Dalton

Cowboys sign little-known DT with injury history to practice squad

From @ToddBrock24f7: Jalen Dalton has appeared in 7 NFL games and 7 UFL games, but has been repeatedly hampered by injuries over a 5-year pro career.

The Cowboys are trying to patch the holes in an injury-riddled defense by bringing in more depth, this time a player who is already quite familiar with pro football trainers’ rooms.

The team signed defensive tackle Jalen Dalton to their practice squad on Wednesday following an earlier workout.

Dalton is a 27-year-old North Carolina native who has seen time with four NFL teams, an XFL squad, and a UFL club, but has very limited game experience.

After going undrafted in 2019, the 6-foot-6-inch Dalton signed with the Bears but did not survive final cuts. Late in the 2019 NFL season, the Saints brought him aboard their practice squad. Two separate season-ending injuries cost him both the 2020 and 2021 campaigns; he was released without ever seeing the field for New Orleans.

Dalton got a new chance with the Falcons in 2022, but another injury in the preseason saw him released before Week 1. Atlanta brought him back midseason, and he finally turned a practice squad stint into seven game appearances that season. He had 13 career tackles, playing 145 defensive snaps.

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A 2023 waiver claim by Carolina never worked out; Dalton was released with a failed physical designation after four days. He looked to the XFL next; he was signed by the Seattle Sea Dragons in late 2023 but never played for them before the team folded in the XFL/USFL merge. He was picked up by the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in 2024’s dispersal draft and logged 12 tackles and two sacks over seven games… before being moved to injured reserve in May.

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Osa Odishizuwa led the Cowboys defensive tackles with 40 snaps in Sunday’s 47-9 loss to Detroit. Mazi Smith played 32 snaps; nose tackle Linval Joseph had 29.

Defensive tackle Phil Hoskins was released from the Dallas practice squad on Wednesday to make room for Dalton.

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Titans worked out 4 players on Saturday, including 2 DTs

The Titans worked out four players on Saturday, two of which were defensive linemen.

The Tennessee Titans worked out four players on Saturday in the hopes of finding someone who can help to improve the depth along the trenches on both sides of the ball.

According to the league’s transactions wire, defensive tackles Jalen Dalton and Khalil Davis, and offensive tackles Rashaad Coward and Justin Murray all received a look from the Titans on Saturday.

Murray apparently did well enough to earn himself a contract with the team following his workout, as the Titans announced they had signed him in the afternoon.

It was well known the Titans were in the market for an offensive lineman, especially after the release of Jamarco Jones. However, the team taking a look at defensive linemen is something new.

The interest likely has something to do with Naquan Jones missing practice on Friday and the Titans possibly needing camp bodies moving forward.

Dalton appeared in seven games for the Atlanta Falcons last season, so he has the Arthur Smith connection. He played 145 defensive snaps and 33 special teams snaps, tallying 13 tackles (one for loss).

Davis is a former sixth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and has played in just three contests during his career, with his most recent game coming in 2021 with the Indianapolis Colts.

As for Coward, he’s played in 38 games (20 starts) over his career since he entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

Interestingly enough, he’s actually played on both sides of the ball in that span, but the vast majority of his snaps have come at guard and tackle. He was listed as a tackle on the transactions wire, also. Clearly the Titans preferred Murray over the Old Dominion product.

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Panthers cut former Tar Heel Jalen Dalton

The Panthers have cut former defensive tackle Tar Heel Jalen Dalton just a few days after signing him.

Former North Carolina defensive tackle[autotag] Jalen Dalton’s[/autotag] journey with the Carolina Panthers got cut short after he was waived Monday.

The 25-year-old was recently added to the Carolin Panthers’ 90-day roster four days before being waived. Dalton went un-drafted in the 2019 NFL draft, however, found a home with the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022-2023 season. Dalton appeared in seven games, finishing with 13 tackles.

According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the Panthers parting ways with Dalton was due to a failed physical designation. Unfortunately for Dalton, this is not new territory, having had an injured riddle career since entering the league.

Despite a quick stint with the Panthers, Dalton should land somewhere else. At the end of training camp, Dalton should be fighting for a spot on a 53-man roster or a practice squad member. Right now, staying healthy is the key to that becoming a reality, but with many teams needing to fill holes on their defensive line, Dalton’s next home could be announced soon.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Panthers waive DT Jalen Dalton

The Panthers have parted ways with DT Jalen Dalton just a few days after claiming him off waivers.

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On Monday, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Jalen Dalton was officially given his uniform number—No. 78. And now, just a few hours later, he’s no longer No. 78 . . . nor a Carolina Panthers defensive tackle.

As first reported by Panthers.com staff writer Augusta Stone this evening, Dalton has been waived. He was claimed off waivers by Carolina from the Atlanta Falcons this past Thursday.

Dalton was born in Clemmons, N.C. and attended nearby West Forsyth High School. He went on to play his college ball at the University of North Carolina from 2015 to 2018, where he totaled 92 tackles (15.0 for a loss), seven passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2019. After being waived prior to the start of the 2019 regular season, he was picked up by the New Orleans Saints—with whom he’d spend the better part of the next three seasons with.

He saw his first official action in 2022, appearing in seven games for Atlanta.

Carolina is now down to an 89-man roster heading into the start of mandatory minicamp this week.

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Panthers DT Marquan McCall changes uniform number

The Panthers have another uniform number change in the books.

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Brian Burns isn’t the only Carolina Panthers player who’s ready for a new aesthetic in 2023.

As noted by team reporter Darin Gantt on Monday morning, defensive tackle Marquan McCall has also undergone a uniform number change. The second-year defender, formerly No. 78, is now No. 55.

McCall joined the Panthers as an undrafted free agent back on April 30, 2022. He played four years at the University of Kentucky prior—totaling 57 tackles (10.5 for a loss), 1.5 sacks, a pass defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The 6-foot-3, 345-pounder played in 16 games for Carolina during his rookie campaign. He recorded 15 tackles and a quarterback hit over 186 defensive snaps.

Taking up McCall’s old No. 78 will be fellow defensive lineman Jalen Carter, whom the team claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons last Thursday. Carter, a Clemmons, N.C. native and University of North Carolina product, appeared in seven games this past season.

Additionally, running Tiyon Evans—who was also claimed on Thursday alongside Carter—will wear No. 39.

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Panthers’ updated 90-man roster after additions on Thursday

The Panthers are back up to a 90-man roster following Thursday’s additions of DT Jalen Dalton and RB Tiyon Evans.

On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers claimed a pair of players off waivers—defensive tackle Jalen Dalton and running Tiyon Davis—and brought their roster up to a full 90 men. So here, along with an historic number change, is the updated locker room:

Panthers claim pair of players off waivers on Thursday

The Panthers claimed two players off waivers on Thursday, including a former University of North Carolina Tar Heel.

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The Carolina Panthers are back to a 90-man roster.

As announced on Thursday afternoon, the team has claimed a pair of players off waivers—defensive tackle Jalen Dalton and running back Tiyon Evans.

Dalton, while not related to Andy, has roots in the area. The Clemmons, N.C. native attended nearby West Forsyth High School and went on to play his college ball at the University of North Carolina.

There, the 6-foot-6, 300-pounder amassed 92 total tackles and 6.5 sacks over four years. Dalton then broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2019 and would log his first official action, with the Atlanta Falcons, in 2022.

Evans, an undrafted rookie out of the University of Louisville, comes over following a brief stint for the Los Angeles Rams. He joins a depth chart that already includes Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear, Spencer Brown and Camerun Peoples.

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Saints release two players amid post-draft roster moves

The Saints released two players amid post-draft roster moves, letting go of DT Jalen Dalton and CB KeiVarae Russell to pursue roster size compliance:

We knew that some roster moves were in store for the New Orleans Saints after they selected five rookies and signed seventeen more of them after the 2022 NFL draft, putting the offseason roster above the 90-man limit, but it’s still tough to see some guys be released this early in the offseason.

The Saints reported the release of defensive tackle Jalen Dalton and cornerback KeiVarae Russell on Tuesday’s update to the NFL waiver wire, getting them closer to roster size compliance. New Orleans still needs to let two or three more players go before they’ll be fully compliant, so this is just a first step in a difficult process.

Dalton in particular felt like someone with a chance to make the team. He turned in two very strong training camp performances with the Saints the last two years only to see each campaign end early with biceps injuries. Sure, New Orleans loaded up with more depth at the position through signing veterans like Kentavius Street and Jaleel Johnson and spending a late-round draft pick on Jordan Jackson. But there were enough flashes from Dalton in the past to suggest he could go the distance if healthy.

As for Russell: the Saints had more cornerbacks (9) than almost any other position group, so some departures were expected. He spent most of the 2021 season on New Orleans’ practice squad alongside Jordan Miller and Dylan Mabin, who are both still around, primarily playing special teams when he was called up on game days. That’s another position where the Saints are flush with depth after retaining Bradley Roby and drafting Alontae Taylor in the second round.

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Saints re-sign backup defensive linemen Carl Granderson, Jalen Dalton

The Saints re-signed backup defensive linemen Carl Granderson and Jalen Dalton, maintaining depth ahead of free agency:

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Here are a couple of good moves: ESPN’s Field Yates reported Thursday that the New Orleans Saints re-signed a couple of important backups along the defensive line, retaining edge rusher Carl Granderson and interior lineman Jalen Dalton. That’s going to be key for keeping the defensive line a strength of the team moving into 2022, and it’s presenting an opportunity for them to do well as free agents in 2023 after playing on one-year deals. Both contracts should clock in at around $895,000 in value.

Dalton, 24, has had two terrific training camps with New Orleans but suffered a season-ending biceps injury in subsequent seasons. He’s done a great job of bullying his teammates on the other side of the ball and flashed during the 2021 preseason prior to his injury. Hopefully he enjoys better health this summer and can make some noise in the Saints’ interior line rotation behind David Onyemata. Other players on the depth chart include Malcolm Roach, Albert Huggins, and Braxton Hoyett. Shy Tuttle and Christian Ringo are free agents.

And Granderson, 25, has been an effective backup to Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport with 8 sacks and 16 quarterback hits over the last two seasons. He’s developed well as a complimentary pass rusher for New Orleans to throw at winded offensive linemen late in games. With Tanoh Kpassagnon returning on a restructured deal and 2021 first round pick Payton Turner looking to make a splash after an injury-plagued rookie year, Granderson needs to take another step and separate from the pack.

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NFL fines Saints DT Jalen Dalton following taunting penalty vs. Ravens

NFL fines Saints DT Jalen Dalton following taunting penalty vs. Ravens

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New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Jalen Dalton was one of three players to receive a $3,667 fine from the NFL office on Saturday after they were each penalized for taunting in last week’s preseason games. Dalton, 24, is playing on a contract with no guaranteed dollars after recovering from a torn biceps muscle last summer. Now he has to forfeit some of the money he’s been working for, along with one of his opponents in Baltimore Ravens cornerback Chris Westry.

Neither player did anything illegal, harmful, or otherwise very notable. But that’s not stopping members of the NFL competition committee like New York Giants owner John Mara from stepping in.

“We get kind of sick and tired of the talking that does go on from time to time on the field,” Mara complained during a recent press conference. “We tried to balance the sportsmanship with allowing the players to have fun and there’s always a fine line there, but none of us like to see that.”

That’s presumably fueled by his own frustrating gameday experience full of opponents taunting the bad teams he’s built (Mara’s most recent coaching hires have gone a combined 29-51, with one year of double-digit wins and four consecutive seasons of double-digit losses). If Mara had done a better job hiring coaches and executives he wouldn’t have had to languish with so many losing teams, nor rivals jeering them on and celebrating Big Blue’s downfall.

Instead he and other incompetent owners are throwing their support behind an effort to take more personality out of the most popular sport in America and make their air-conditioned view from a luxury suite more palatable. And the players actually working, sweating, and emoting down on the field have to take extra care not to raise the ire of anyone influential.

Anyway; hopefully the officials settle down once the regular season kicks off in a few short weeks. Interrupting the pace of play and taking great moments away from players and teams because of chatter or flexing in the heat of the moment is an awful look for the league. Owners have taken these shots at players before to send a message only for them to settle down afterwards (remember the banned group celebrations rule?). Let’s see how it plays out.

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