There is a point during every training camp when a player who seemed destined to make the Cowboys roster suddenly finds himself on the outside looking in. Cutdown day has a way of producing surprises, and Dallas' history is filled with roster decisions that left fans questioning what the team was thinking.
Back in 2018, Dallas released kicker Dan Bailey on final cutdown day. At the time, Bailey was second all-time in career field goal average. He would go on to kick for the Vikings for three more seasons before calling it a career.
That history is worth remembering as the team approaches the important deadline. With several position battles playing out across the roster, there are players who could find themselves involved in a far more dramatic
cutdown-day storyline than anyone anticipated. Some could be based on performance while others could leave Cowboys Nation genuinely stunned.
5) OL Drew Shelton
Cutting rookie offensive lineman Drew Shelton would qualify as shocking mainly because the team has historically stayed away from the optics of not being correct on a recent draft selection. The team selected the left tackle out of Penn State in the fourth round, 112th overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Shelton has struggled throughout training camp and earned stunningly low marks on the Pro Football Focus grading scale. Against Arizona, Shelton looked more comfortable as a left tackle yet still allowed four pressures, three hurries, and one QB hit.
Luckily for the young offensive lineman, Dallas is thin on the edges of their offensive line yet chatter about the team acquiring a more vested veteran could make for an uncharacteristic move. It remains more likely that the team finds a way to stash him for the season so that he can improve his strength and technique.
4) QB Sam Howell
Sam Howell might be one of the most difficult potential cuts for Dallas because of the importance of the position. He entered the competition with legitimate NFL experience yet may have been outplayed by the ascending Joe Milton. If he fails to impress in the final preseason game of 2026, Howell could become expendable.
The Cowboys have reportedly viewed the competition as extremely closemaking every snap important. His red zone interception in Arizona may have left a negative lasting impression in a tightly contested battle.
Cutting Howell would leave Dallas with a younger backup option in Joe MIlton, but it would also mean moving on from a quarterback with considerably more regular-season starting experience. Dallas wouldn't be strangers to that scenario as the team only carried two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster last season.
3) DT Jonathan Bullard
Veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard was supposed to provide the Cowboys with a reliable rotational presence with the ability to start. Dallas has yet to see any of his skills on the field as he has yet to practice with the team after suffering from groin and abdominal issues. A second medical opinion revealed tendinitis was the cause of his injury.
Just before camp started, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star Telegram labeled Bullard as a safe player on the roster due to his decade worth of experience. Today, it is more than reasonable to think his name may be among those who do not make the team.
Bullard signed with Dallas back in late March on a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million. The former Viking has ties to the coaching staff playing under new Cowboys defensive line coach Marcus Dixon while in Minnesota.
2) WR Camden Brown
Undrafted free agent wideout Camden Brown could be one of the more unexpected and unpopular cuts because of the excitement surrounding the rookie. He has generated attention with his physical ability and has made a strong enough impression to become part of the conversation surrounding the Cowboys receiving depth.
Brown had two touchdown catches against Seattle in the teams first preseason game of the year and followed that up with an impressive 70-yard catch and run against the Cardinals.
Camden Brown so far this preseason:
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) August 23, 2026
4 receptions
132 receiving yards
2 TDs pic.twitter.com/Rg6MzbjH2V
He is in a battle for the fifth and possible final receiver slot against Jonathan Mingo who has also stood out in training camp. If Dallas opts to keep six wideouts, Brown would presumably be safe. If team constraints limit the team to five, Brown and Mingo appear to be battling for their football livelihood in Dallas.
With significant talent ahead of them in the position room, special teams contributions could ultimately determine the final spot.
1) Safety Malik Hooker
One of the most seldomly heard names throughout camp has been veteran safety Malik Hooker. His experience in Dallas along with his veteran leadership have made him a valued member of the secondary.
However, the Cowboys have invested significantly in the position and the numbers could push him out of Dallas altogether. The team drafted Caleb Downs after inking Jalen Thompson to one of the bigger contracts Dallas has given in recent memory. The team also brought in P.J. Locke making it the deepest position group on the team.
Releasing Hooker would save the Cowboys just over $1 million in cap space yet would leave $5.5 million in dead money. Hooker is slated to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and the recent investments made at the position make a return unlikely at his current price.
Dallas could attempt to trade the former first-round pick which would pass on his remaining guaranteed salary to his new team allowing for a much larger cap savings.
Players on the bubble have one last chance to impress against the Saints in the final preseason game of 2026 before roster cuts. All teams must reduce their roster down to 53 players before Sunday, August 30 at 6:00 P.M EST.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 5 Cowboys cuts that would leave fanbase stunned, in shock
