Former University of West Florida wide receiver David Durden has been released by the Dallas Cowboys.
Durden was cut by the team on Monday, and was one of four receivers cut that day. He was joined by Tyron Billy-Johnson, Deontay Burnett and Cam Johnson, who were all released on Monday, as well. With the 3 p.m. deadline on Tuesday, teams were on the clock to get down to a 53-man roster.
During the preseason, Durden recorded just one reception for 16 yards in Dallas’ game at the Los Angeles Rams.
Durden was waived with an injury designation, though the injury wasn’t disclosed. Durden was a top candidate to make the 53-man roster in 2023 before tearing his ACL during training camp before the regular season began. He was running a one-on-one drill against cornerback Trevon Diggs, and ended up tripping but stayed on the ground in pain. An MRI a day day that Durden had a confirmed torn ACL.
Durdan had already missed time earlier in training camp from a concussion suffered in August 2023. He was initially signed by the Cowboys in April 2023 after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In two seasons at UWF, Durden led the team in receiving yards both years. He compiled 1,915 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns.
Current UWF head coach Kaleb Nobles and former wide receiver Caden Leggett, who played with Durden last season, had nothing but praise for the former Argo during the team’s media day in 2023.
“(Durden) ended up becoming one of my best friends, talking and learning from each other on and off the field, how to make each other better, and what we see here. (He’s) truly a student of the game, just making each other better,” Leggett said. “Everybody knew who David Durden was. Wherever he was, no matter who was covering him, he was going to do something.”