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Chuma Edoga

Cowboys Activate Marshawn Kneeland, Chuma Edoga From IR

November 23rd, 2024 at 2:26pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Cowboys made a flurry of roster moves on Saturday, including the activation of rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland and veteran offensive tackle Chuma Edoga from injured reserve, per a team announcement.

Kneeland, the 56th overall pick in April’s draft, was designated for return on Wednesday after recovering from surgery on a partially-torn lateral meniscus. Edoga has been ramping up in practice for a few weeks after a preseason toe injury sidelined him for the Cowboys’ first 10 games.

Neither player is expected to start for the Cowboys on Sunday, but they will provide depth on the edge of the trenches on either side of the ball. Kneeland is still hunting for his first career sack at defensive end, while Edoga is likely to serve as a swing tackle behind Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele.

To make room on their 53-man roster, the Cowboys placed safety Markquese Bell on injured reserve and waived defensive end K.J. Henry. Bell had to undergo shoulder surgery after a Week 11 injury, while Henry became surplus to requirements with Kneeland’s return.

The Cowboys also ruled out All-Pro guard Zack Martin with 2023 undrafted free agent T.J. Bass likely starting in his place. Dallas is also swapping out one All-Pro cornerback for another with Trevon Diggs ruled out and DaRon Bland expected to make his season debut after recovering from a setback from his foot surgery. Bland has played just two games with Diggs over the last two season, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota, and he will be the sixth different starting outside cornerback for Dallas this year, according to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News.

Injuries have been a constant issue for the Cowboys this season. On Sunday, the team’s top-five 2024 salary cap hits – totaling more than $100MM – will all be sidelined, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. That list includes Martin and Diggs, along with Dak Prescott, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Brandin Cooks, who all remain on injured reserve. Prescott is out for the season, while Lawrence is still rehabbing from a Lisfranc injury. Dallas declined to activate Cooks from injured reserve after he was designated for return earlier this week and progressing towards a return to the field.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/24

November 13th, 2024 at 9:02pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed off Commanders’ practice squad: CB Chigozie Anusiem

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): TE Jack Stoll

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/24

August 29th, 2024 at 8:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys 

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Keandre Jones, S Ben Nikke

Schlottmann suffered what Brian Daboll called a long-term injury. Elaborating on the injury Schlottmann suffered in practice Wednesday, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes the veteran backup O-lineman will rehab a broken fibula. The injury is expected to shut down the free agency addition for at least two months. No surgery is on tap for Schlottmann. The Giants considering him for activation may depend on their injury situation, as teams only have eight regular-season IR activations. The Giants have seven presently, as they used a summer IR designation on linebacker Matthew Adams on Tuesday.

Cowboys OL Chuma Edoga Likely To Miss Regular Season Time

August 13th, 2024 at 2:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys’ depth along the offensive line could be tested early in the season. Veteran Chuma Edoga is dealing with a toe injury suffered in the preseason opener, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports.

As a result, Moore notes Edoga is likely to begin the season on injured reserve. In that event, the 27-year-old would be forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign. First-round rookie Tyler Guyton will be on track to handle starting duties on the blindside, and losing Edoga (who will not need surgery, per Moore) for a stretch will add more pressure on Guyton to perform right away.

Head coach Mike McCarthy noted on Tuesday that Guyton, to little surprise, will work with the starters in the wake of Edoga’s injury. He added (via Moore’s colleague Calvin Watkins) that Matt Waletzko will continue at right tackle with Asim Richards getting backup reps on the blindside. The latter will prepare for the swing tackle role to begin the season as Edoga begins a lengthy rehab process.

Dallas saw Tyron Smith depart in free agency, ending his 13-year tenure with the franchise. The 2010s All-Decade member served as an effective left tackle when healthy, but the addition of Guyton set up a short- and long-term investment at the position. Guyon primarily played at right tackle during his time at Oklahoma, but his athletic upside led many to expect he would be capable of making the move to the left at the NFL level.

Of course, Guyton succeeding at left tackle would allow for 2022 first-rounder Tyler Smith to remain at guard. The Cowboys prefer to keep the Pro Bowler on the inside, and strong play at left guard would help ease the acclimation period for Guyton and fellow rookie Cooper Beebe, who is set to take over from Tyler Biadasz at center. Losing Edoga could increase the chances of Smith moving back to tackle if needed, though.

Edoga played in all 18 regular and postseason games for the Cowboys in 2023, his debut campaign in Dallas. That included six starts, and the 27-year old saw time at left tackle and left guard. He drew a 61.4 PFF grade, roughly in line with his previous evaluations. That level of play landed Edoga a new one-year Cowboys deal, but his 2024 debut will likely be delayed.

Cowboys To Re-Sign T Chuma Edoga

April 3rd, 2024 at 11:07am CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys’ partnership with Tyron Smith ended after 13 seasons, with the All-Decade tackle leaving for a Jets deal in free agency. Dallas is, however, keeping the decorated tackle’s primary 2023 backup.

Chuma Edoga is re-signing with the Cowboys, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. A one-year deal is expected. A former Jets third-round pick, Edoga started six games for the Cowboys last season. Primarily playing left tackle, Edoga worked as Smith’s injury replacement.

As the Cowboys transition from their talented but injury-prone starter, Edoga will give them a low-cost option. Though, the team will presumably intend to keep Edoga as a swingman. Though, he does offer some positional versatility.

Dallas used Edoga on 312 snaps at left tackle last season but also trotted him out at left guard on 101 plays. His return could give Dallas an inside option, with Tyler Smith — once viewed as the team’s left tackle of the future — still potentially in play to slide back outside. Tyler Smith has excelled at both guard and tackle as a pro. The younger Smith is still an option to take over at left tackle. That would obviously create a hole at left guard — a familiar situation for a Cowboys team that has lost Connor Williams and Connor McGovern in consecutive offseasons. The Cowboys did view Edoga as a better tackle than guard, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Edoga’s six starts were his most since his 2019 Jets rookie season. He fell out of favor with the Jets soon after, as GM Joe Douglas was not on board when he was drafted. This led him to the Falcons in 2022 via trade. He started one game with Atlanta. Last season, Pro Football Focus graded Edoga just outside the top 50 among tackles.

Set for his age-27 season, Edoga may have a chance to carve out a bigger role in 2024. The Cowboys have two holes along their starting O-line, with center starter Tyler Biadasz following Dan Quinn to Washington. The draft will represent a key avenue to upgrade, as the Cowboys have not been especially busy in free agency. Edoga, however, offers a bit of insurance as the team considers its options following the loss of its likely Hall of Fame-bound left tackle.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East

August 30th, 2023 at 2:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles and Giants moves are noted below.

Dallas Cowboys

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

New York Giants

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Philadelphia Eagles

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Washington Commanders

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Cowboys Set 53-Man Roster

August 29th, 2023 at 5:36pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cowboys were busy today, with the organization announcing 36 roster moves as they reduced their team to 53 players:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

  • OT Josh Ball
  • WR David Durden
  • LB DeMarvion Overshown
  • TE John Stephens Jr.

According to Nick Harris of the team website, both long snapper Trent Sieg and cornerback C.J. Goodwin are expected to rejoin the active roster once the dust settles from this initial round of cuts.

Quinton Bohanna spent the past two years in Dallas after being selected in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. He got into 27 games (10 starts) over the past two years, collecting 29 tackles while playing both on defense and special teams. The Cowboys added first-round defensive tackle Mazi Smith this offseason, making Bohanna expendable.

Cowboys Rumors: LG, Elliott, Turpin

June 11th, 2023 at 7:53pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys fielded a revolving door at left guard last year and, for now, it looks like it may continue revolving through the summer. According to Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News, Dallas is looking into multiple possibilities to replace Connor McGovern, who departed for Buffalo in free agency back in March.

The favorite to man the newly open starting spot is Tyler Smith, who manned the position at times last season when he wasn’t at left tackle. With Tyron Smith back to healthy, Tyler can shift inside for good this season. The younger Smith embraced the opportunity to work at guard recently, asserting that being elite at both positions will ultimately help the team the most.

The Cowboys haven’t limited the versatility training to Smith. Gehlken reports that multiple other linemen have received time at both guard and tackle this offseason. Matt Farniok, who has worked mostly at interior line positions so far in Dallas, has been working outside. Chuma Edoga has worked at right tackle and left guard, as well. Even second-year lineman Matt Waletzko was approached by offensive line coach Mike Solari to work at guard for the first time in his life.

As of right now, it looks to be a starting lineup of Tyron Smith at left tackle, Tyler Smith at left guard, Tyler Biadasz at center, Zack Martin at right guard, and Terence Steele at right tackle. With Steele still coming back from a late season-ending ACL and MCL tear, many in the building would like to see Tyler Smith continue to develop at tackle. In the meantime, it seems that Dallas is keeping its options open for both positions.

Here are a few other rumors coming out of Arlington:

  • Rookie second-round tight end out of Michigan Luke Schoonmaker has been dealing with a plantar fascia issue, reportedly wearing a walking boot on his right foot last week. According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Schoonmaker was out of the boot this week but was still limited to just sideline work. The injury isn’t considered serious, as he’s expected to be ready for the start of training camp, according to head coach Mike McCarthy.
  • Owner, president, and general manager Jerry Jones continues to leave the door open for a reunion with veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott, according to Machota. His son, and team CEO, Stephen Jones says that the team is looking into adding a bigger back. They signed fullback Hunter Luepke undrafted out of North Dakota State and signed the stout Ronald Jones in free agency, but Elliott could always find his way back to Dallas despite both parties continuing to explore their options.
  • Lastly, another report from Machota claims confidence that wide receiver and return specialist KaVontae Turpin should find a spot on the Cowboys’ eventual 53-man roster. While rookie running back Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis got some opportunities to handle return duties in recent weeks, Turpin is a much more explosive and proven option. It also doesn’t hurt that Turpin has been getting some serious run with the second-team wide receiver group.

Latest On Cowboys’ Left Guard Situation

May 19th, 2023 at 10:50am CST by Sam Robinson

After another free agency period featured the Cowboys’ starting left guard leaving in free agency, the team will be faced with a decision. How Dallas goes about that will determine if the team rolls out an O-line featuring its best five blockers or a group that features more positional familiarity.

Connor McGovern followed Connor Williams to the AFC East, signing with the Bills on a three-year deal worth $22.35MM. The Cowboys have Dak Prescott tied to a big-ticket deal, and Zack Martin‘s 2018 extension remains in the upper tier at guard. They are also preparing for CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs payments, making the departures of McGovern and Williams the cost of doing business.

As for how the team replaces McGovern, multiple avenues look to exist. Both involve in-house solutions, per executive VP Stephen Jones. Door A would involve a backup rising into the starting role. The Cowboys are planning to move backup tackle Josh Ball to the interior this year, and the team drafted Asim Richards in the fifth round. Former Jets third-round pick Chuma Edoga also signed with the team, after having played for the Falcons last year.

“I think we’ve got a talented group of linemen,’’ Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore. “I mean Josh Ball is here today. He’s certainly going to get an opportunity to compete for that spot. As we’ve said, we’re big fans of Chuma. [VP of player personnel] Will [McClay] and his pro staff did a lot of work on him. Probably the only thing holding him back in his career has been some medical challenges that he’s had. We really feel like he can come in there and help.”

A 2021 fourth-round pick, Ball has 41 career offensive snaps on his resume. Edoga 13 career starts but ahs primarily worked as a tackle. Jones also brought up Richards, North Carolina’s left tackle last season, as a potential entrant in this competition. However, he also mentioned the “best five” scenario that would bring a more intriguing configuration.

“Our top five linemen are our top five linemen. Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Terence Steele, Zack Martin,” Jones said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Really felt like if you’re gonna get your best five who have played in this league, those are our best five. We’ll see what happens from there.”

The issue with that quintet would be Steele’s lack of guard experience. The former UDFA has been a tackle with the Cowboys and at Texas Tech. But with Tyron Smith back (and expected to slide to the right tackle spot he played last season), the Cowboys do not look to have a tackle job available. The team placed a second-round RFA tender on Steele, who has made 40 starts during a three-year career, earlier this offseason. Last year’s Week 1 right tackle is also rehabbing ACL and MCL tears. That stands to delay a Cowboys decision on where to use the contract-year blocker.

A third option would be moving Tyler Smith back to left guard, where he began his career before Tyron Smith’s avulsion fracture changed the team’s plans last summer. The younger Smith played left tackle for most of last season but started two games (Week 18 and Dallas’ wild-card win) at left guard. The second-year lineman said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer) he would be fine playing anywhere on the offensive front. With Jerry Jones labeling Smith a tackle, however, the prospect of the former first-rounder playing guard at Steele staying at right tackle might be a last resort.

McGovern’s experience gave the Cowboys an easier answer to replace Williams. The team may not know its McGovern replacement for a while.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/21/23

March 21st, 2023 at 8:41pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Minnesota Vikings

Adams, a former seventh-round pick, collected 55 tackles across 58 games (nine starts) with the Colts to begin his career. He spent the 2022 campaign in Chicago, compiling 26 tackles in 10 games (three starts).

The Cowboys previously tried to trade for Edoga, so it’s not a surprise that he’s finally landed in Dallas. Per Nick Eatman of the team’s website, the lineman could be a candidate to start at left guard to replace Connor McGovern. The former third-round pick has only appeared in seven games over the past two seasons in stints with the Jets and Falcons.

Anderson hasn’t started a game since the 2020 season, but he can still be a reliable special teamer and situational defender for a rebooted Panthers squad. The veteran got into 11 games for the Colts last season, collecting 18 tackles.

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