Cowboys Waive Former 1st Round Pick, Activate Tackle From Injured Reserve

Before facing the second-seeded Detroit Lions in an enormous NFC match, the Dallas Cowboys have made some squad changes.

After just nine games, the organization announced late on Wednesday morning that LB Rashaan Evans, a former first-round pick, was being dismissed.

Following Leighton Vander Esch’s neck injury during the Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas acquired the seasoned linebacker.

The Tennessee Titans selected Evans with the 22nd overall choice in the first round of the draft.

Strangely enough, Dallas had Evans available to select with the 18th overall pick in that draft, but they went with the previously mentioned Vander Esch.

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 other words, he returns to the mass of unsigned free agents that are linebackers who haven’t been able to find a spot on the team this season.

With just nine combined tackles in nine game appearances, Evans had little effect.

Evans was expected by Cowboys Nation to contribute to the defense in a similar manner as he did during his 2022 Atlanta Falcons career.

During his one-year stay in Atlanta, the former Alabama star recorded a career-high 159 tackles.

He was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad earlier in the season, but he left the organization on his own volition after just two weeks.

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?

Depth, in a word.

There are two rookies and an old senior journeyman on the Cowboys’ active roster that provide depth to the offensive line.

Since we haven’t seen Asim Richards take a snap, we have no idea what the team has in him.

This season, TJ Bass has filled in admirably at right guard when Zack Martin has been sidelined, albeit very infrequently.

Although Waletzko was a right tackle in college, the Cowboys might take a look at him as a swing tackle. Terence Steele’s backup.

Given the likelihood of an injury to veteran left tackle Tyron Smith, the Cowboys should have a stronger backup plan in place at the most critical position on the offensive line.

Perhaps Waletzko is that

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk