Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer added three new players to the defensive side of the ball on Tuesday when the Dallas Cowboys signed linebacker Nick Vigil, defensive tackle Albert Huggins, and linebacker Darius Harris following productive tryouts with the team.
The Cowboys placed wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on the reserve/did not report list as he continues his contractual holdout from training camp, waived rookie undrafted linebacker/defensive end Byron Vaughns, and placed Sam Williams on the injured reserve after he suffered a season-ending torn ACL earlier in training camp to make room for the new faces.
Vigil, who was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, rejoins Zimmer following a 2021 season in which he started 12 games and recorded 85 tackles for the Minnesota Vikings.
The Cowboys have signed 3 players, cut another, formally put sam Williams on IR & (for now) actually put CeeDee Lamb on the did not report the list
WATCH: https://t.co/yVRtfdE0Az@ChatSports #CowboysNation @dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/OjDyfLfQl8
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) August 6, 2024
Additionally, he reunites with Paul Guenther, the Cowboys defensive run game coach who spent two seasons as Vigil’s defensive coordinator in Cincinnati.
Vigil has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, which forced him to use the Vikings practice squad in 2023 after placing him on the injured reserve in 2022.
Huggins is a 305-pound, 6-foot-3 defensive tackle who has spent five seasons playing for five different teams. Last season, he made five starts for the Atlanta Falcons, recording 22 tackles—the most in his NFL career.
In 2020, Huggins was a member of the Minnesota Vikings practice squad for one month during Mike Zimmer’s tenure as head coach. Huggins’ experience might play at either interior place for the Cowboys, who need help at defensive tackle. However, his physical attributes might be more appropriate for a backup role behind Osa Odighizuwa.
Harris is playing for a new team for the first time in his NFL career. Harris is a two-time Super Bowl champion, capturing the championship with the Kansas City Chiefs last year.
Following his 2019 Chiefs acquisition as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State, Harris played in 33 games and totaled 58 tackles during his four seasons with Kansas City. 2022 was his greatest season, starting all 17 games and recording 43 tackles.
Mike Zimmer suddenly has two more bodies in a packed room thanks to the depth at linebacker. The linebacker corps now features new players in Harris, Vigil, Eric Kendricks, Marist Liufau, DeMarvion Overshown (return from injury), Jason Johnson, Willie Harvey Jr., Damien Wilson, and Brock Mogensen, despite having just one healthy linebacker on the active roster at the end of the season in 2023.
