Dallas Cowboys Rumors: Players On The Bubble For This Week’s Cuts To 53-Man Roster
The Dallas Cowboys, like every other team in the NFL, need to get their roster down to 75 players by 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday. They will then have to get it down to the mandatory 53-man roster after Thursday night’s preseason finale. A number of players are on the bubble, but some cuts may be harder to make than others.
Blogging the Boys reported that there were 87 players on the Cowboys’ roster as of Sunday night, and it was a rather balanced set. There are currently 41 players on offense, 41 players on defense, and five specialists.
A few things are obvious, and it’s that the Cowboys will likely keep two quarterbacks on the roster in Tony Romo and Brandon Weeden. There are 11 wide receivers currently on the roster, but only four or five will be kept.
Dez Bryant will be joined by Cole Beasley, Devin Street, and Terrance Williams on the final Cowboys’ roster. ESPN reports that Lucky Whitehead likely shouldn’t make the team, but Jerry Jones has taken a liking to him, so it’s possible.
The biggest confusion comes in the running back department. Joseph Randle has hardly done anything in training camp and the preseason due to injury, but he’s definitely made the cut. The same can likely be said for Lance Dunbar and Darren McFadden.
Rumor has it the Cowboys will go with a running back by committee approach for the upcoming season. It also means that Gus Johnson, the first preseason game starter, will be out of a job soon.
The usual suspects will make it on the team as defensive ends, and that includes Lavar Edwards. If he’s going to stay on the team, he will need to prove himself in the first four games while Greg Hardy is serving his suspension. If Edwards doesn’t show enough, he will be gone as soon as Hardy is back.
A shock in the linebacker department is that Jasper Brinkley may very well be on his way out even though he was guaranteed $2 million as a free agent. Keith Smith has played well for the Cowboys in the preseason, especially on special teams, so it is possible.
Orlando Scandrick’s injury has him out for the season, and that likely brings the number of cornerbacks from five to six. Rod Sweeting is one of those who appears to be on the bubble and probably won’t make the final 53-man roster.
The Dallas Cowboys may not have a number of big decisions to make to get their roster down to 75 players and then the final 53, but some choices need to be made. A host of players are about to be without a job, and those on the bubble need to prove themselves now.
[Image via Getty Images – George Gojkovich]
