Dallas Cowboys finalize 53-man roster with surprise trade and 32 cuts
On Tuesday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys finalized their 53-man roster heading into the 2025 season by making 35 cuts, two moves to the injured reserve and a surprise trade with the New Orleans Saints.
The day began with the Cowboys placing two players on the injured reserve/designated to return list: wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (knee) and defensive end Payton Turner (ribs). As a result, neither player counts toward the 53-man roster, but both will have to miss at least four games to begin the season.
Next, the Cowboys traded offensive lineman Asim Richards and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Saints for a 2028 sixth-round pick.
Lastly, ahead of the 3 p.m. deadline, the Cowboys made 32 cuts to whittle the roster to the required 53 players. Some of the notable cuts included running back Deuce Vaughn, cornerback Israel Mukuamu and wide receiver Traeshon Holden.
Here is the 53-man roster as it stands Tuesday afternoon:
Quarterback: Dak Prescott, Joe Milton III
Running Back: Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, Miles Sanders, Hunter Luepke, Phil Mafah*
Wide Receiver: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, Ryan Flournoy
Tight End: Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker
Offensive Linemen: Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, Ajani Cornelius, Nate Thomas
Defensive Ends: Micah Parsons, Dante Fowler, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, James Houston
Defensive Tackles: Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas, Mazi Smith, Perrion Winfrey, Jay Toia
Linebackers: Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn, Marist Liufau, Shemar James, Damone Clark
Cornerbacks: Trevon Diggs, Kaiir Elam, DaRon Bland, Zion Childress, Andrew Booth, Caelen Carson*
Safeties: Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, Markquese Bell, Juanyeh Thomas
Specialists: Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg
*Mafah and Carson will go on the injured reserve list on Wednesday after sitting on the roster for at least 24 hours. Special teams ace C.J. Goodwin and offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji are expected to take their roster spots.
Here are the list of cuts:
RELEASED: OT Hakeem Adeniji, DT Earnest Brown, OL Saahdiq Charles, OT Geron Christian, CB C.J. Goodwin, QB Will Grier, CB Kemon Hall, LB Darius Harris, LB Buddy Johnson, S Israel Mukuamu, CB Michael Ojemudia, CB Robert Rochell, OT La’el Collins
WAIVED: DT Tommy Akingbesote, LB Justin Barron, WR Jalen Brooks, S Alijah Clark, WR Jalen Cropper, RB Malik Davis, TE Rivaldo Fairweather, TE Princeton Fant, WR Traeshon Holden, S Mike Smith, RB Deuce Vaughn, DE Tyrus Wheat, OG Nick Broeker, DT Denzel Daxon, WR Josh Kelly, CB Troy Pride, TE Tyler Neville, TE John Stephens, CB Christian Matthew
Waived players can be claimed by any of the 31 other teams in the next 24 hours, but a team claiming a player will have to place him on their own 53-man roster. When players clear waivers, they are free to sign to any practice squad. Released players are immediately free agents and do not need to clear waivers.
This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM.
