Now that all teams have cut down their training camp and preseason rosters to just 53, over 1,000 players have been sent to free agency. Some players were claimed via waivers, vested veterans were signed outright, and others remained in the free agent pool.

That doesn’t end the roster building. Teams must now fill up their practice squads, and you’d be surprised at the level of talent that the practice squad holds for the Dallas Cowboys.

The size of the practice squad grew to 16 players in response to the overwhelming player availability issues that COVID-19 caused, and the NFL decided to make the temporary fix a permanent fixture for the league.

As reported by dallascowboys.com writer Patrik “No C” Walker, the 16 practice squad players signed by the Cowboys are as follows:

• DE Carl Lawson
• OL Josh Ball
• CB Josh Butler
• WR Jalen Cropper
• RB Malik Davis
• DT Denzel Daxon (International Player Program)
• TE Princeton Fant
• CB Kemon Hall
• WR Kelvin Harmon
• LB Darius Harris
• S Emany Johnson
• LB Brock Mogensen
• OL Dakoda Shepley
• LB Nick Vigil
• RB Dalvin Cook
• DT Phil Hoskins
• CB Amani Oruwariye

You’ll notice that there are actually 17 players on the Cowboys practice squad instead of 16. That’s because DT Denzel Daxon is part of the International Player Pathway Program, and counts as an exemption for the Cowboys. This is the same program previously utilized by offensive lineman turned defensive lineman, Isaac Alarcon.

The talent of the Cowboys roster extends to the practice squad, and I want to discuss three players who are most likely to be called up to the active gameday roster throughout the season.

Practice Squad Notes

First, let’s talk about how the practice squad works for a better understanding of the rules when players get called up to the active roster.

Practice squad players can be called up to the active gameday roster three times throughout the course of the season before teams have to make a decision. Once a player is called up for the third time, teams cannot send the player back to the practice squad.

At this point, teams must decide to sign the player to the 53-man roster or be forced to release the player into the free agent pool. Strategy and roster maneuvering are a large part of the process, and the Cowboys have always been adept at managing this.

Here are three players that the Cowboys will likely call up three times and eventually sign to the active 53-man roster.

DE Carl Lawson

Carl Lawson was signed by the Cowboys a few weeks ago to add depth to a defensive end room that suffered the loss of Sam Williams to a torn ACL. The Cowboys appeared to give younger players a chance to shine, but no one outside of rookie Marshawn Kneeland has stepped up to the plate.

Lawson was released by the Cowboys initially, causing Philadelphia fans to mock the team after several of us celebrated his signing and the impact he could have on Mike Zimmer’s defense. However, Eagles fans are usually not smart enough to realize that it was simply smart roster maneuvering because, as a vested veteran, Lawson is not subject to waivers.

He was immediately signed right back to the practice squad as he continues to ramp up into football shape, and he will likely be on the active roster week 1 and beyond. The first three games will be a test for Lawson to determine if he will be signed to the active roster.

RB Dalvin Cook

Dalvin Cook is another veteran that will likely be on the active roster for the first three weeks of the season on a trial basis.

Cook is 29 years old, but he still showed some explosiveness during the postseason as a member of the Ravens’ backfield. Many say that he can still be more explosive than Ezekiel Elliott, who took zero preseason reps.

I’m not sure if the Cowboys did that to preserve his legs, which already have over 2,000 carries, or if he roster spot is so secure that they didn’t feel he needed to take any preseason snaps.

Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys alternate healthy scratches for Elliott and Cook throughout the season in an effort to see which running back is more important to the offense.

OL Josh Ball

Josh Ball proved to be a valuable piece of the offensive line this preseason, and was recognized as one of the highest graded offensive linemen by Pro Football Focus.

The Cowboys must not have seen what PFF saw because they sent Ball to waivers, instead keeping the oft-injured Matt Waletzko and second-year Asim Richards on the roster. Ball cleared waivers and landed back on the practice squad.

Ball has a good chance to be called up to the active roster this season because of the flexibility he provides to the Cowboys’ offensive line. He can play either guard spot, and prefers to play right tackle, but could fill in at left tackle in a pinch.

Waletzko is limited strictly to right tackle, and with Chuma Edoga on Injured Reserve, Ball’s services may be needed sooner than later depending on the gameday matchup.