It looks like the Cowboys will be taking two defensive ends from their Thursday workout. In addition to adding Al-Quadin Muhammad, they are signing Shaka Toney, per veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson.
Toney joined Muhammad, Carl Lawson and Justin Hollins at the Dallas workout. While Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler followed Dan Quinn to Washington, the Cowboys will check on a former Commanders DE contributor.
This represents a second chance for Toney, who missed all of last season due to a gambling suspension. Washington did not immediately waive Toney, separating him from some of the other gambling offenders last year, but the new regime cut ties this offseason. The Cowboys look set to see how Muhammad and Toney fare, potentially giving two rushers a chance to vie for one roster spot following Sam Williams‘ ACL tear.
A 2021 Washington seventh-round pick, Toney mostly operated as a reserve in Montez Sweat-fronted DE groups during his two-year on-field run. The Penn State product combined for just 1.5 sacks in that span but played in 26 games. He was then part of the initial wave of gambling suspensions, joining a host of Lions. The Commanders kept Toney, who was found to have bet on NFL games while on team grounds, last year. Once Toney was reinstated, however, the Adam Peters regime dropped him. Toney’s Washington exit came shortly after the Armstrong and Fowler arrivals.
Toney, who also worked out for the Giants in May, did register 21.5 sacks in four seasons with the Nittany Lions. He and Muhammad join a Cowboys DE corps including starters Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, along with second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland. A prospective Toney-Muhammad competition may also produce a practice squad spot for the loser (or both); Muhammad is also set to miss Week 1 due to a PED suspension.