NFL roster cuts are coming

For the Dallas Cowboys or any other team in need, help is on the way.

There is going to be a lot of player movement this week.

The first NFL roster cuts have to be completed by 3 p.m. Tuesday Dallas time. Teams have to reduce rosters to 75 active players.

While the first cuts don’t traditionally include many quarterbacks, a position of need for Dallas, there will be another group on the market when final cuts are made on Saturday.

The quarterback position moved to the forefront at warp speed for the Cowboys when a broken bone in starter Tony Romo’s back was revealed on Saturday. Romo was injured on the third play of last week’s game at Seattle on a sack by Cliff Avril.

Backup Dak Prescott, who has shined in the preseason, moves into the starting role. Behind him is second-year man Jameill Showers.

After that, no one.

Yet.

But there’s still a preseason game left. The fourth and final preseason game will be played on Thursday around the league. The Cowboys are hosting the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium on Thursday.

Prescott likely won’t be put in harm’s way. That leaves Showers to go it alone. He might have help in the next 24-48 hours. Then, maybe not.

The roster reduction from 90 to 75 on Tuesday doesn’t have the same quality as the final reduction from 75 to 53 on Saturday. The final cutdowns on Saturday must be completed by 3 p.m. Dallas time.

Next comes the claiming period. That’s when it gets juicy.

Who’s claiming whom?

The claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 11 a.m. Dallas time on Sunday, although most of the claiming is done on Saturday evening.

Once that is completed, the team’s will begin to establish a practice squad of 10 players on Sunday.

This story was originally published August 29, 2016 at 6:04 PM.