There’s nothing truly final about final roster cuts in the NFL, and the Dallas Cowboys continue to make moves that will shape their 2024 depth chart heading into their Week 1 battle against the Cleveland Browns — the latest item on the task list being to fill out their practice squad.
Usually allowed a total of 16 players on the unit, this year is different in that the Cowboys are able to carry undrafted rookie free agent Denzel Daxon as an IPP (International Pathway Program) exemption to make for a maximum of 17. It’s the same exemption once used for Isaac Alarcón from 2020 through 2023.
As if often the case for the Cowboys, the large majority of this year’s practice squad is constructed by players who were either waived by Dallas during cutdowns this week (and cleared waivers) or released (vested veterans not subject to waivers); and with a sprinkle of veteran leadership — i.e., Dalvin Cook and Carl Lawson.
Cook is unofficial for now, but expected to join, while Lawson is indeed official and can begin practicing immediately after being released during cutdowns earlier this week with the goal of returning in short order.
Practice squad players can be elevated three times to a gameday roster but, on the third, they must either be moved to the active roster or waived or released, whichever applies to their number of seasons played in the NFL (4 or more accrued = vested).
Much like the 53-man roster, the practice squad is not yet set in stone, but several deals are officially in place in Dallas, and below is the list of those who will be available for the Cowboys to elevate to the main roster when ready and/or when needed.
Josh Ball, T Josh Butler, CB Jalen Cropper, WR Malik Davis, RB Denzel Daxon, DT (IPP) Princeton Fant, TE Kemon Hall, CB Kelvin Harmon, WR Darrius Harris, LB Emany Johnson, S Carl Lawson, DE Brock Mogensen, LB Dakoda Shepley, OL Nick Vigil, LB