After a nail-biting 24 hours waiting to see if quarterback Joe Milton would clear waivers and return to the practice squad, the Dallas Cowboys are not done adding to it.
The team announced late on Thursday that they have signed veteran tight end James Mitchell to their practice squad. Mitchell started his career in Detroit after being selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech.
Mitchell is a good veteran option to have with NFL experience, and the ability to impact the game
as a receiver and blocker if one of the top three tight ends miss time. In his three years in the NFL, Mitchell has hauled in just 16 receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown.
He has played in 35 NFL games with one start, most of that with the Detroit Lions. He was most recently in the Carolina Panthers training camp. Despite his lack of production, Mitchell was viewed as a mid-round tight end by many during the 2022 NFL draft cycle.
The Cowboys waived Mitch Van Voreen in the corresponding move to create space for Mitchell. Don’t expect Mitchell to make much if any impact in 2026 unless injuries strike, but the Cowboys continue to make smart moves by churning the bottom of the roster and making sure their practice squad has “NFL ready” players on it in case of an emergency. They can also start developing them for more in 2027.
