Cowboys Finalize Roster by Releasing 24 Players, Including Two Quarterbacks
Frisco, Texas — As part of the NFL’s league-wide deadline to trim rosters to 53 players, the Dallas Cowboys made a wave of cuts on Tuesday, parting ways with 24 players in total. The list includes a pair of quarterbacks, Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci, as the team finalized its depth chart heading into the regular season.
Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci were among the more notable names released. Gilbert, who made a start for the Cowboys in 2020 and has served as a backup option, was released as a vested veteran. DiNucci, a 2020 seventh-round pick, was waived after an inconsistent preseason. These moves signal the Cowboys’ confidence in Cooper Rush to serve as the primary backup behind starting quarterback Dak Prescott.
In total, six veterans were released and 18 players were waived. Players who are waived are subject to claims from other NFL teams, while released veterans are free agents immediately.
Players Released (Not Subject to Waivers):
- QB Garrett Gilbert
- S Darian Thompson
- CB Deante Burton
- LS Jake McQuaide
- OT Eric Smith
- TE Jeremy Sprinkle
- DT Justin Hamilton
Players Waived:
- QB Ben DiNucci
- WR Johnnie Dixon
- WR Osirus Mitchell
- WR Reggie Davis
- WR Aaron Parker
- S Steven Parker
- RB Brenden Knox
- RB JaQuan Hardy
- S Tyler Coyle
- FB Nick Ralston
- TE Nick Eubanks
- TE Artayvious Lynn
- DE Austin Faoliu
- OT Isaac Alarcon
- C Braylon Jones
- WR Brandon Smith
- DE Ron’Dell Carter
Additional Roster Moves:
Two injured players, defensive tackle Trysten Hill and wide receiver T.J. Vasher, were placed on reserve lists. Hill will start the season on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, and Vasher moves to the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list. Both will be ineligible for the first six weeks of the regular season but could return afterward.
Hill has shown promise when healthy but has battled injuries throughout his tenure with the team. Vasher, an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech, was sidelined with a lingering knee issue.
The Cowboys may look to bring back several of the waived players on the practice squad, provided they clear waivers. With roster decisions now finalized, the focus turns to Week 1 preparations and finalizing the game-day lineup.