NFL rules allow teams to sign veteran free agents at any time, but there's a significance to how things are done following the first week of action. Any NFL veteran who is on the roster for Week 1 has the entirety of that season's contract guaranteed. That's why many teams might wait for signing one of the free agents still on the market, as they don't want to commit to a full season if the player doesn't fit the scheme or culture, or doesn't have any juice left.
On Tuesday, the Dallas Cowboys didn't jump though. Their Week 1 performance against the Giants was miserable on defense, with little pressure on QB Jaxson Dart, and a group of linebackers who didn't seem much different than last year's group. There are big-name veterans who are available,
such as Bobby Wagner and Joey Bosa, that the team could simply rent for however many weeks they want, but the only move so far this week was at running back.
The @dallascowboys signed RB Tyler Goodson to the active roster from Atlanta’s practice squad.
— Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) September 15, 2026
Dallas also waived RB Israel Abanikanda.
Dallas signed Tyler Goodson off the Atlanta practice squad, meaning he'll be in town for at least three weeks, and released Israel Abanikanda. The writing was on the wall for Abanikanda, after he was promoted to the 53-man roster following the move of Malik Davis to IR. Abanikanda was left off the game-day roster on Sunday, though, as the club decided to roll with just two halfbacks, Javonte Williams and Emari Demarcado.
Here's a look at the team's 53-man roster, 17-man practice squad , and returnable-IR group.
No. 0 LB DeMarvion Overshown
No. 1 Safety PJ Locke
No. 2 CB Cobie Durant
No. 3 WR George Pickens
No. 4 QB Dak Prescott
No. 5 Punter Bryan Anger
No. 6 Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku
No. 7 DE Rashan Gary
No. 9 WR Kavontae Turpin
No. 11 Safety Alijah Clark
No. 13 DB Caleb Downs
No. 14 Safety Markquese Bell
No. 16 Sam Howell
No. 17 Kicker Brandon Aubrey
No. 18 WR Jonathan Mingo
No. 19 WR Ryan Flournoy
No. 21 CB Caelen Carson
No. 23 CB Ameer Speed
No. 24 Safety Malik Hooker
No. ?? RB Tyler Goodson
No. 26 CB DaRon Bland
No. 28 CB Shavon Revel, Jr.
No. 30 FB Hunter Luepke
No. 31 RB Emeri Demercado
No. 33 RB Javonte Williams
No. 34 Safety Jalen Thompson
No. 40 Edge Von Miller
No. 41 Edge James Houston
No. 44 Long Snapper Trent Sieg
No. 50 LB Shemar James
No. 51 OL Nick Leverett
No. 52 OG Tyler Booker
No. 53 LB Dee Winters
No. 55 LB Jaishawn Barham
No. 56 Center Cooper Beebe
No. 57 Edge Malachi Lawrence
No. 59 Edge Tyrus Wheat
No. 60 OT Tyler Guyton
No. 65 OL Ajani Cornelius
No. 66 OG T.J. Bass
No. 67 OT Drew Shelton
No. 77 OT Broderick Jones
No. 78 OT Terence Steele
No. 80 WR Camden Brown
No. 86 TE Luke Schoonmaker
No. 87 TE Jake Ferguson
No. 88 WR CeeDee Lamb
No. 89 TE Brevyn Spann-Ford
No. 90 DT Jonathan Bullard
No. 91 DT Otito Ogbonnia
No. 92 DT Quinnen Williams
No. 97 DT Kenny Clark
No. 99 DT LT Overton
No. 10 QB Joe Milton
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 15 CB Derion Kendrick
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 25 RB Israel Abanikanda*
Elevations Remaining: 3 (assuming he returns to the PS after being released Tuesday)
No. 27 CB Reddy Steward
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 42 LB Curtis Robinson
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 45 LB Justin Barron
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 46 TE Michael Trigg (UDFA)
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 58 DE Isaiah Land
Elevations Remaining: 3
No.64 OL Wanya Morris
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 71 OG Laken Tomlinson
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 79 OL Marcellus Johnson
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 81 WR Jordan Hudson
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 83 WR Anthony Smith
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 93 DT Elijah Garcia
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 95 DT Tommy Dunn
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 96 DL Adedayo Odeleye (IPP)
Elevations Remaining: 3
No. 29 CB Devin Moore (Returnable)
![Florida defensive back Devin Moore (28) works out during Pro Day at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 26, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2026/07/19/SCOW/90974006007-usatsi-28591962.jpg)
Moore was placed on Returnable IR at roster cutdowns, he is eligible to be activated in Week 5.
No. 73 OG Tyler Smith (returnable)
Smith was placed on IR before Week 1 and is expected to be out 4-6 weeks.
No. 35 LB Marist Liufau (Returnable)
Liufau was placed on Returnable IR at roster cutdowns, he is eligible to be activated in Week 5.
No. 20 RB Malik Davis
Davis was placed on IR for Week 1 but is out for the season with a hip injury.
No. 49 (OFF) TE DJ Rogers (UDFA)
Rogers was placed on IR during training camp and is done for the year.
No. 85 TE Princeton Fant
Fant was placed on IR during training camp and is done for the year.
No. 72 OL Matt Hennessy
Hennessy was placed on IR during training camp and is done for the year.
No. 94 DT Kelvin Gilliam
Gilliam was placed on IR during training camp and is done for the year.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Now free to rent vets, Cowboys change 53-man roster just at RB, not defense
