Cowboys practice squad 2021: Ben DiNucci rejoins team and headlines 16-man unit in Dallas
With original roster cuts now accomplished all over the NFL, teams are focused on waiver claims and filling out their 16-gentleman practice squad. For the Dallas Cowboys, the more urgent of all positions was the job of backup quarterback, and they hope proclaiming previous third-spherical decide Will Grier will enable clear up the challenge driving Dak Prescott — following waiving the two Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci on Tuesday. In projecting the Cowboys 53-gentleman roster ahead of the NFL deadline, there had been a number of notable gamers predicted to return to Dallas if they cleared waivers, and some acquainted faces have presently agreed to conditions, and the most commonplace is DiNucci.
The previous seventh-spherical decide in 2020 are unable to seem to discover any form of groove at the experienced amount, but the Cowboys are not providing up on their sidearm just nonetheless. The 24-calendar year-outdated will continue attempting to create along with other individuals like Isaac Alarcon — who has a roster exemption and will not count from the team’s 16-gentleman count — and JaQuan Hardy, a backup running back again who failed to display ample to acquire on the job of RB3 in the wake of Rico Dowdle being misplaced for the calendar year with a fractured hip but did make the scenario for more time in Dallas with the possibility of being named up this coming period (in the function of personal injury).
A quick reminder of the principles for 2021, although: teams can contact up gamers from the practice squad a overall of two periods to the gameday roster and move them back again the next 7 days devoid of risking them to waivers. The third time they are named up, if they are introduced, they are not able to be moved back again to the practice squad and will as a substitute hit the waiver wire — unless of course they are a vested veteran not subject to waivers (in which scenario they’re going to promptly be a cost-free agent).
That reported, here is a glimpse at the Cowboys practice squad consequently far, sources confirm to CBS Sports, with more names to appear:
- Ben DiNucci, QB
- Isaac Alarcon, OL (IPP)
- Darian Thompson, S
- Nick Ralston, FB
- JaQuan Hardy, RB
- Braylon Jones, OL
- Kyron Brown, DB
- Brandon Smith, WR
- Osirus Mitchell, WR
- Deante Burton, CB
Alarcon is a roster exemption who can now be activated in 2021, for every new IPP principles, and the Cowboys are participating in a little bit of chess by keeping him all over in this manner, because it will not charge them a roster spot (on neither the lively roster nor the practice squad) but guarantees he is in tow to play likely forward.
They failed to get anyone they needed although, with defensive lineman Ron’Dell Carter being a primary instance of a dice roll coming up snake eyes. The workforce discussed adding Carter to the practice squad prior to releasing him, sources say, but though the promising young pass rusher cleared waivers on Wednesday, he is agreed to conditions with the Arizona Cardinals to be a part of their practice squad as a substitute — these same sources say. Carter came on solid in camp and this year’s preseason following expending time on the two the Cowboys practice squad in 2020 (being protected a number of periods before then being poached by the Indianapolis Colts, then returning to the Cowboys to finish out the period).
A remarkably-sought following undrafted cost-free agent in 2020, Carter will attempt his hand in the desert — finding out from J.J. Watt and possibly Chandler Jones in the method.
The predicament at backup QB in Dallas is obviously the most intriguing of all, because though CBS Sports projected Gilbert to be a part of DiNucci on the practice squad, it’s not nonetheless occurred, generating that predicament one particular to observe. Gilbert entered instruction camp as the frontrunner for QB2, but eventually misplaced out to Hurry, and not automatically because of undesirable play — more because of to familiarity and ease and comfort with Hurry by offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and the Cowboys front workplace. Gilbert can now opt for in which he would like to play, assuming he receives various gives, and it would unquestionably reward the Cowboys to have him adhere all over.
Grier will obstacle Hurry for QB2 now, if not rapidly supersede him for the job, so also continue to be tuned for any potential move on the latter, because releasing Hurry could impact what does or does not materialize with Gilbert. As is generally the scenario, roster administration this time of calendar year is a bowl of spaghetti — seeing as a number of gamers are heading to hurt reserve with some set to be activated from the COVID/Reserve checklist this 7 days as effectively — so the “last” roster in Dallas will not be set for a couple of times now.
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