On the cusp of a gargantuan NFC showdown versus the second-seed Detroit Lions, the Dallas Cowboys have made some roster moves.
The team announced late Wednesday morning that former 1st round pick LB Rashaan Evans was being waived after just nine games.
Dallas acquired the veteran linebacker after losing Leighton Vander Esch to a neck injury in the Week 5 loss at the San Francisco 49ers.
Evans was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the 22nd overall pick in the first round.
Coincidentally, Evans was there for Dallas to take in that draft, but they instead chose the aforementioned Vander Esch with the 18th overall pick.
In a corresponding move, second-year 5th-round pick OT Matt Waletzko has been activated from injured reserve to take Evans’ place on the active roster.
What Does This Mean For Rashaan Evans?
In short, he heads back to the free agent pile of linebackers that haven’t found a permanent home this season.
Evans’ impact was minimal, registering only nine combined tackles in nine game appearances.
Cowboys Nation expected Evans to deliver for the defense in the same capacity as his 2022 career year with the Atlanta Falcons.
The former Alabama standout spent one year in Atlanta, recording a career-high in tackles (159).
Earlier this season he was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad for two weeks before voluntarily removing himself from the team.
Evans’ tenure in Dallas was short-lived.
Although he appeared in nine games, he only landed on the stat sheet in four of those games, finishing his Cowboys’ career with five solo tackles and four assists.
What Does This Mean For Matt Waletzko?
It means he finally gets an opportunity to show what he can do as a healthy player.
After being drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft out of North Dakota, Waletzko impressed the coaches enough to make the active roster as a rookie.
He appeared in just three games and played a grand total of one offensive snap before being placed on injured reserve with a shoulder subluxation requiring surgery.
Waletzko had a history of shoulder subluxations in college and brought that along with him to the NFL.
Another shoulder subluxation in the offseason on the opposite shoulder required another surgery and prompted Dallas to move him to injured reserve.
Now he finally has a shot to show his value to the Cowboys and the offensive line just in time for the playoffs.
What Does This Mean For The Defense?
I believe it could mean a couple of things.
First, it further shrinks the number of players in the linebacker room who are true linebackers and shows their commitment to the Dime package for the remainder of the season.
Currently, the only true linebacker remaining on the roster is second-year player Damone Clark.
Dan Quinn has utilized safeties Markquese Bell and Donovan Wilson as linebackers who lack size, but make up for it in speed.
My prediction is that Micah Parsons will be seeing more time as an off-the-ball linebacker after an impressive showing versus the Miami Dolphins.
After being gutted by the Buffalo Bills for 266 yards on the ground, it wouldn’t have been far-fetched to think the Dolphins’ rushing attack could run for even more.
Parsons recorded his second-highest tackle total of the season (7) against Miami, and helped hold them to just 91 yards on 26 attempts.
It was one of the defense’s sturdiest games against the run, and even more impressive considering the opponent.
Evans’ impact may have been minimal, but only time will tell if a more imposing presence at linebacker in short-yardage situations will be missed.
What Does This Mean For The Offense?
In a word, depth.
The Cowboys’ depth on the offensive line currently on the active roster features an aging veteran journeyman and two rookies.
We have no idea what the team has in Asim Richards because we have yet to see him take a snap.
TJ Bass has played well in place of Zack Martin at right guard when needed this season, but it has only been sparingly.
Waletzko, who primarily played right tackle in college, would be the likely backup to Terence Steele, but could the Cowboys consider him for swing tackle?
With the probability of an injury to veteran LT Tyron Smith high, the Cowboys need a better contingency plan at the most important spot on the offensive line.
Waletzko might be that contingency plan.