The NFL teams had until Tuesday to complete their 53-man rosters. Even though the regular season is still over a week away, the Dallas Cowboys will be making roster changes every day until kickoff. A team will have the chance to obtain the assistance they require when a number of seasoned players are shown the door.
The 53-man roster of the Cowboys is set, and while there were not many surprises, a few names that were omitted from the original roster stuck out like sore thumbs. As of right now, those left off the roster are free to look for work elsewhere, however Dallas has the option to sign released players to the practice squad if they clear waivers.
Ultimately, these three players in particular were left off the roster despite having a strong chance of making it. It’s possible that the Cowboys will regret allowing these three to leave before their Week 1 matchup with the Browns.
3 players Cowboys will regret leaving off the 53-man roster
The Cowboys may regret letting these players walk out the door. https://t.co/33M2DJLUTd
— The Landry Hat (@LandryHat) August 28, 2024
3. DT Justin Rogers
After Jonathan Hankins signed a contract with the Seahawks, the Cowboys were hoping to add defensive tackle depth in the draft. Mazi Smith appears ready to make a move, but assistance was obviously still required. They selected Auburn’s Justin Rogers with their seventh-round selection. Although it is common for late-round players to be dismissed, it was unexpected that Dallas had already let Rogers go after he hardly appeared in the preseason.
Jordan Phillips and Linval Joseph’s arrival is probably the reason for Rogers’ release. While Joseph is anticipated to play the one-tech at nose tackle behind Smith, he is anticipated to play the three-tech behind Osa Odighizuwa. Dallas seems to have lost out on the chance to develop a late-round pick with the potential to be a valuable player.
Joseph and Phillips have one-year contracts. Given the Cowboys’ current performance history, both players will be gone by the upcoming season. Jerry Jones’ desire to add the two veterans makes sense, but this could mean losing out on a rookie draft pick. When you consider that Dallas didn’t give the player an opportunity, it may be viewed as a squandered draft pick.
In the event that either Rogers or Joseph sustain an injury, the Cowboys may come to regret keeping Rogers off the roster and placing him on the practice squad. Given that both Phillips and Joseph are in their 30s, who can determine if they will stay well or even succeed? They would have had greater depth and a stronger backup plan if they had retained Rogers.
2. CB Eric Scott
With All-Pro DaRon Bland out for six to eight weeks following foot surgery, the Cowboys need all the cornerback depth they can get at this time. Even though Trevon Diggs has recovered from an ACL tear, it is reasonable to wonder if he will play the same in his first season following surgery.
It was unexpected that Eric Scott was left off the roster in light of the circumstances. Scott, a sixth-round selection the previous season, received positive feedback during training camp but ended up playing in just one game as a rookie. He had a difficult preseason debut in 2024, finding it difficult to cover the Rams’ elusive receivers before being called for needless roughness on a late hit.
But Scott recovered with an interception to close out the first half. After that game, his status may have increased somewhat, but he regrettably had little action in the final two exhibition games, recording just three tackles. Many believed that Scott would be the next in line to take Bland’s place as the third or fourth outside corner after his injury. Behind Diggs, the Cowboys now have rookie Caelen Carson,
Andrew Booth, and Israel Mukuamu. Scott may be able to avoid waivers and stay on the practice squad, but it might not be a good idea for a club lacking one of the finest defensive backs in the league to remove a promising young cornerback off the roster.
1. TE Peyton Hendershot
The first major surprise of the Cowboys’ roster cutdowns came early on Tuesday when Kansas City Chiefs acquired tight end Peyton Hendershot in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2026. Hendershot was expected to be waived, according to numerous reports in the lead-up. Dallas received a draft selection in exchange for a guy they were going to cut, so on the surface, the deal appears to be a genius move. But perhaps this is one the Joneses will regret. The NFL is plagued by injuries, and the Cowboys, with their shallow roster, are frequently forced to make last-minute decisions when an ailment strikes.
Although Luke Schoonmaker is the leader of the Cowboys’ tight end room, Hendershot has shown to be an equally valuable depth piece. In 2022, as an undrafted rookie, he scored three touchdowns, and after Dalton Schultz left, it appeared as though he could repeat the feat in 2023. Unfortunately, Hendershot’s injury kept him out of action, and Ferguson’s rise to prominence combined with Schoonmaker’s strong rookie year rendered Hendershot unnecessary.
The fact that Dallas chose to play Brevyn Spann-Ford and John Stephens Jr. over Hendershot is even more shocking. While Hendershot is a two-year veteran who is familiar with this offense, neither Stephens nor Spann-Ford had a very impressive preseason performance. The backup plans appear dire if Ferguson or Schoonmaker suffer injuries. Jerry may come to regret his choice to let Hendershot leave by the conclusion of the season, when the Cowboys should be performing at their peak.
