Don't miss any of the action with our daily updates: news, notes and more throughout the Cowboys' regular season. Presented by Blockchain.com
January 3 Updates
10:50 a.m. — The Dallas Cowboys have activated rookie defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko Jr. to the 53-man roster from the injured reserve list and have moved rookie running back Deuce Vaughn to the injured reserve list in a corresponding move.
Fehoko, who has been on the IR since Nov. 18, saw his 21-day practice window expire on Wednesday and was activated to the 53-man roster as a result. Drafted in the fourth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Fehoko has yet to make his NFL debut.
Vaughn, drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, will head to the IR after playing in seven games in his rookie season including rushing for two yards and hauling in one reception for 10 yards on Saturday against the Lions.
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January 1 Updates
4:00 p.m. — It was the failed two-point conversion heard around the world on Saturday, when the Detroit Lions drew an illegal touching penalty with the game on the line that helped award the Dallas Cowboys their 11th win of the season and a chance to clinch the NFC East in Week 18.
It's not unlike what occurred to the Cowboys in Week 9 against the Eagles, when Chuma Edoga was penalized for not declaring as eligible during a late-game stretch wherein Dallas was attempting to mount a fourth-quarter comeback.
It's something the Cowboys have learned from, and what happened in their win over the Lions simply reaffirms their commitment to making sure it never happens to Dallas again.
"Look at our game in Philadelphia," said head coach Mike McCarthy. "... We want to make a big deal about it because of communication … Those are mistakes that are unacceptable. That's the longest substitution you're going to have, going down to the goal line so, yeah, those are things you're always going to emphasize."
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December 30 Updates
11:45 p.m. — In the locker room after the Cowboys' 20-19 win over the Detroit Lions, Cowboys left guard Tyler Smith told reporters that he strained his plantar fascia and that he will have imaging on Sunday to determine the severity. There was confidence in from Smith that it's not a long-term issue, but obviously the playoffs and his availability for those game(s) will take precedence over next week's game against Washington.
Smith limped off the field early in the third quarter after suffering the injury on a deep shot from Dak Prescott to Brandin Cooks that fell incomplete. Smith missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury.
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5:45 p.m. — The offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys just got a major piece back against the Detroit Lions. Tyron Smith, listed as questionable with a back injury after having missed the loss in Week 16 to the Miami Dolphins, is active and cleared for Week 17.
This gives the Cowboys their full complement of starting offensive linemen for the seventh time in the last eight games, but their running back corps is down a key player — Rico Dowdle having been ruled out with an ankle issue.
Dowdle joins Johnathan Hankins on the sideline against the Lions, the latter still recovering from a high ankle sprain, but the absence of Dowdle has led to rookie halfback Deuce Vaughn being activated to the gameday roster on Saturday.
Remaining inactives for the Cowboys include Matt Waletzko, Eric Scott, Noah Igbinoghene, Asim Richards and Trey Lance — Lance serving as emergency quarterback.
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11:21 a.m. - The Cowboys added some depth at linebacker for Saturday's game with the Lions, elevating Buddy Johnson from the practice squad.
Johnson (6-2, 240) was signed to the Cowboys' practice squad in October. He's played four games in his career over the last two seasons, with stints in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston and Pittsburgh.
The Cowboys recently waived veteran Rahsaan Evans this week and are thin at the position, which includes Damone Clark, Markquese Bell and Tyrus Wheat, along with Micah Parsons, who has been more of a pass-rusher.
The Cowboys also elevated DT Carl Davis for the third time. He will provide depth in the middle of the defense with Johnathan Hankins missing another game.
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December 29 Updates
4:31 p.m. - With Michael Irvin expected to be in attendance for Jimmy Johnson's Ring of Honor induction, he might also get to witness one of his top records being broken by another No. 88.
CeeDee Lamb needs just three catches on Saturday to become the Cowboys' all-time single-season leader in receptions. He currently sits at 109, which is third in team history behind Irvin's record of 111 set in 1995 and Jason Witten's 110 catches in 2012.
Lamb entered last week's game with 103, which ranked fourth all-time behind his own 107 catches he set last year.
Irvin's record has stood for 28 years, which was also the last time the Cowboys won a Super Bowl. That year, Irvin also set the team's single-season record for receiving yards with 1,603. Lamb is currently third all-time with 1,424 and needs 180 in the next two games to surpass him as well.
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December 28 Updates
The Dallas Cowboys have ruled out DT Johnathan Hankins and RB Rico Dowdle for Saturday's game against the Detroit Lions with ankle injuries.
Starting left tackle Tyron Smith was upgraded to limited on Thursday's practice report and is listed as questionable.
The Cowboys will have to make some decisions at running back with Dowdle out and Malik Davis out of game-day elevations. To get Davis on the roster, they'll have to make a roster move with someone on the 53-man roster. Or they could just go with Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke as the backups to Tony Pollard.
For the Lions, TE Brock Wright has been ruled out, CB Cam Sutton is questionable, and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson will remain on the injured reserve at least one more week as he works to return from his pectoral injury.
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2:00 p.m. —Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs – who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in practice ahead of the team's week three game against the Arizona Cardinals – has entered month three of his rehab process and even though he won't play the rest of the 2023 season, he remains around the facility.
"Yeah, Trevon has been around," head coach Mike McCarthy said on Thursday. "I had a moment to spend some time with him and his son last week. That was fun."
Fellow cornerback DaRon Bland has spoken throughout the season about Diggs' influence and teaching as his record-setting second season powers on. With that, Diggs also makes sure to meet with defensive backs coach Al Harris when he is in the building.
"He's here and interacting with the guys," McCarthy said. "I know Al makes a point to get with him when he's in the building."
No timetable has been set on his recovery nor is there any concrete target return date for the 2024 offseason.
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December 26 Updates
4:00 p.m. — Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said during Tuesday's press conference that left tackle Tyron Smith (back) and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (ankle) are "getting better" and that "they have a chance" to play this week against Detroit.
They will not participate in the team portion of today's light practice at The Star.
Smith missed the game in Miami after suffering a back injury against the Buffalo Bills, while Hankins has missed each of the last two games after suffering an ankle injury in the second half of the team's win over Philadelphia.
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10:30 a.m. — There's a new round of injury updates as the Dallas Cowboys try to stave off a three-game losing streak when the Detroit Lions visit in Week 17 — headlined by Tyron Smith and Johnathan Hankins but, also, now with an eye on Stephon Gilmore.
Smith was ruled out of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins with a back injury, and owner and general manager Jerry Jones says the team is working toward hopefully having him return against the Lions. As for Hankins, who missed his second game with a high ankle sprain?
"I don't know that we'll have [Hankins this week]," said Jones to 105.3FM the Fan. "But, we're gonna have him as we get on into the playoffs. And we may have him this week."
Gilmore told media on Sunday evening that he suffered a rib injury in Miami but not one that will keep him out against the Lions — a sentiment echoed by Jones on Tuesday.
"I'm planning on him playing," said Jones.
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December 24 Updates
2:55 p.m. — Tyron Smith will not take the field against the Miami Dolphins, having been ruled out on Saturday by the Dallas Cowboys due to a back issue suffered last week against the Buffalo Bills. The offensive line will have the benefit of Zack Martin's presence, however, who was ruled in ahead of kickoff on Sunday.
Martin suffered a quad contusion in the first quarter against the Bills and did not return to the contest, and was later listed as questionable on Friday's injury report before being given the green light in Miami — to face one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.
It will be the second week without Johnathan Hankins, who continues to nurse a mild high ankle sprain. The Cowboys are hoping to bounce back from a poor showing in run defense and, as such, have again elevated Carl Davis from the practice squad.
Other inactives for the Cowboys against the Dolphins include Deuce Vaughn, Noah Igbinoghene, Jalen Brooks, Eric Scott and Trey Lance (emergency QB).
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December 23 Updates
1:30 p.m. — Expect another shakeup for the Dallas Cowboys offensive line due to injury, something they battled over the first trimester of the 2023 season — Tyron Smith having been ruled out against the Dolphins.
The starting left tackle suffered a back injury against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15 and did not practice this week, initially listed as doubtful for the contest.
| Player | Injury | Game status |
|---|---|---|
 |
Knee | Questionable |
 |
Ankle | Questionable |
 |
Thigh | Questionable |
On Saturday, it was decided he will not travel to Miami and will remain in Dallas for more rehabilitation with hopes of being available against the Detroit Lions next week.
Chuma Edoga will get the start at left tackle in Smith's absence, similar to the first portion of the year when Smith missed time with injury. The team is monitoring the status of Zack Martin (quad) who is listed as questionable.
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December 22 Updates
1:22 p.m. - Veteran defensive tackle Carl Davis has been elevated to the roster for this game for the second straight week.
The Cowboys are needing inside help on the defense with Johnathan Hankins ruled out for a second straight game with an ankle injury.
Davis played last week in Buffalo and was credited with two tackles.
He's one of two elevations for this week's game, along with running back Malik Davis.
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4:00 p.m. – The Dallas Cowboys have officially listed starting left tackle Tyron Smith (back) as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.
Starting left guard Zack Martin (thigh) was upgraded to limited in Friday's practice report and is listed as questionable against the Dolphins.
After missing last Sunday's game against Buffalo, safety Malik Hooker (ankle) is listed as questionable for Miami, but the outlook looks bright after hitting the practice field twice this week.
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December 21 Updates
6:01 p.m. – The Dallas Cowboys held their final allotted padded practice of the regular season on Thursday afternoon in the North Texas rainstorm, as Malik Hooker (ankle) was able to make his return to the practice field in a limited fashion for the first time since suffering an ankle injury against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 10.
Johnathan Hankins (ankle) remained out of practice, as Mike McCarthy told the media that he would be "hard-pressed" to play on Sunday against Miami. The same goes for Zack Martin (quad) and Tyron Smith (back) who both remained out of practice as they continue to rehab injuries suffered against the Bills this past Sunday.
The Cowboys will hold a walk-through practice on Friday and Saturday before flying to Miami on Saturday afternoon.
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December 17 Updates
8:01 p.m. – There weren't a lot of milestones to go around for the Cowboys in this 21-point loss. But CeeDee Lamb became the first player in Cowboys history to have multiple 100-catch seasons. His seven receptions on Sunday gives him 103 for the year, coupled with his 107 last season.
Lamb also joined Michael Irvin as the fastest player to reach the 100-catch mark, doing so in 14 games.
His streak of five straight games with a TD catch ended but Lamb did score a rushing touchdown. The six straight games with a touchdown is the second-most by a Cowboys receiver in team history, only behind Dez Bryant, who scored seven straight in 2012.
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7:43 p.m. – Running back Tony Pollard had 52 rushing yards in the game, totaling 54 yards from scrimmage.
While the Cowboys certainly needed more production from the offense all the way around, Pollard did extend his streak to 14 games this year with at least 50+ scrimmage yards.
Only two players in the NFL have produced 50+ yards from scrimmage in every game - San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey and Pollard.
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7:21 p.m. – Cowboys rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey made his only field goal of the game – a 32-yarder in the second quarter.
That kick extended his streak to 31 straight field goals, padding his NFL record for the most consecutive field goals to begin a career.
Aubrey is also leading the NFL in points scored, looking to become the first rookie to lead the league in points since Mason Crosby in 2007, coached by Mike McCarthy with the Packers.
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6:59 p.m. – Rookie defensive tackle Mazi Smith played considerably more on Sunday with Johnathan Hankins out with an ankle injury.
The first-round pick recorded his career sack when he stopped Josh Allen for a 9-yard loss in the second quarter.
Smith was credited for two tackles, including one for loss, with the sack.
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2:55 p.m. — The run defense of the Dallas Cowboys will be tested in Week 15, with Johnathan Hankins ruled out due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 14. In his absence, Carl Davis was elevated from the practice squad and rookie first-round pick Mazi Smith will see more reps.
The team will also be without Malik Hooker, who was ruled out just ahead of kickoff after battling illness this week. Expect a heavy dose of second-year safety Juanyeh Thomas in his place.
The good news is the Cowboys will not be without Stephon Gilmore, who also fought through illness but has been cleared to play, along with Jalen Tolbert, who was in the same boat.
Inactives against the Bills, alongside Hankins and Hooker, Jalen Brooks, Deuce Vaughn, Asim Richards, Eric Scott and Trey Lance (emergency QB).
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December 16 Updates
1:45 p.m. — The Dallas Cowboys have elevated defensive tackle Carl Davis and running back Malik Davis from the practice squad for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.
C. Davis will provide help in the defensive interior in the absence of Johnathan Hankins, who will miss Sunday's game with an ankle injury. It's his first elevation of the season and will be his debut with the Cowboys.
M. Davis will provide help in the running game in what is expected to be a rainy, sloppy game with heavy rain and high winds expected. It's his second elevation of the season.
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December 15 Updates
4:51 p.m. — The Dallas Cowboys announced on Friday afternoon that starting defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins will miss Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills with the ankle injury he sustained last week against Philadelphia.
In addition, six players are listed as questionable as safety Malik Hooker will try to power through an ankle injury and CB Stephon Gilmore, WR Brandin Cooks and WR Jalen Tolbert will all look to get through coming down with the flu earlier in the week.
Offensive tackle Matt Waletzko and defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko Jr. — who are both on the injured reserve list — are both listed as questionable as well, but their activation would require the Cowboys moving a player off of the 53-man roster to make room.
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12:45 p.m. — When the injury report was released by the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, ahead of their coming matchup against the Buffalo, there were three key players absent from practice due to an illness/flu that's been making its rounds at the facility.
Brandin Cooks, Stephon Gilmore and Jalen Tolbert were sidelined on Thursday with illness, but the good news is that, per Mike McCarthy, each is expected to make the trip this weekend and to take the field against the Bills.
"I think everybody's gonna progress," McCarthy said on Friday. "We're not feeling like we're gonna leave anybody home, as of our last conversation. I think we're gonna be OK there."
There is still a question mark regarding safety Malik Hooker, however, who did not participate in practice on Wednesday or Thursday but, after participating in Friday's walkthrough, has McCarthy "hopeful" for his availability.
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10:21 a.m. - Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has ruled out defensive end A.J. Epenesa and safety Micah Hyde from Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys due to injury.
Epenesa has 6.5 sacks on the season and has emerged as yet another solid young pass rusher for the Bills while Hyde has been one of the more dangerous versatile secondary weapons in the league in recent years.
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December 14 Updates
3:00 p.m. — There's some great news for the Dallas Cowboys and some not-so-great news, based upon the injury report released on Thursday. Micah Parsons is his usual jovial self again, having fully recovered from the illness/flu he battled last weekend against the Eagles.
The bad news is three other Cowboys, namely Brandin Cooks, Stephon Gilmore and Jalen Tolbert, are now all experiencing illness that held them out of practice.
There are still two more practices before the Cowboys truly determine who will be full go and who won't, making this something to keep an eye on ahead of a top-shelf matchup on the road against the Buffalo Bills.
Another item of note is in how safety Malik Hooker has yet to practice this week with an ankle injury, and his status against the Bills is also one that'll be decided as the week comes to an end.
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1:00 p.m. — Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker – who has been battling an ankle injury that he suffered against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday – is expected to practice in a limited fashion on Thursday, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. Hooker did not practice in Wednesday's walk-through.
Cowboys punter Bryan Anger also returned to the team on Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice for personal reasons.
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December 13 Updates
2:00 p.m. — The Dallas Cowboys have opened the 21-day practice window for rookie fourth-round pick Viliami Fehoko Jr. (knee) and practice squad offensive lineman Billy Price (undisclosed). The window allows them to practice with the team for the next 21 days before the team decides to activate them back onto the roster (Fehoko) or practice squad (Price).
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December 10 Updates
5:50 p.m. — There was a bit of a scare for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday when, just hours ahead of their critical rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles, the team was forced to add Micah Parsons to the injury report with an illness.
As it turns out, however, the First-Team All-Pro pass rusher will suit up and take the field, as expected, and that means the most dominant player in the building will have a chance to swing the game in the Cowboys' favor in prime time.
The inactives list for the Cowboys includes Jalen Brooks, Deuce Vaughn, Asim Richards, Noah Igbinoghene, Eric Scott and Trey Lance — Lance serving as emergency quarterback behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush.
On a week that saw head coach Mike McCarthy undergo emergency surgery and still be available to coach in this matchup, there's more on the line for the Cowboys than all of the things that are already very much on the line here.
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11:15 a.m. — It's just hours ahead of the looming rematch between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, and Micah Parsons has been added to the team's injury report with an illness.
He is expected to take the field and play, however, and that will be a major bullet dodged by the Cowboys — considering how disruptive and impactful the All-Pro pass rusher is between the lines.
The Cowboys have had a tumultuous week as it relates to medical concerns, the headliner being head coach Mike McCarthy undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday; though he has already returned from the procedure and will coach from the sideline on Sunday.
As for Parsons, who you can bet will help determine the outcome of this game, as it stands, you can count him in as well.
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December 8 Updates
10:45 a.m. — Mike McCarthy underwent an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday afternoon after a sudden onset of extreme abdominal pain that forced him to be evaluated medically. The procedure initially put his availability against the Eagles this Sunday in question.
It was expected the Cowboys' head coach would be well enough to join his team trying to land an all-important win against their divisional rivals at home, and that optimism has now turned into all but a guarantee.
On Friday, McCarthy returned to the facility in Frisco and, speaking to 105.3FM the Fan, owner and general manager Jerry Jones confirmed there will be no hiccup in this weekend's process for the Cowboys.
"We'll be business as usual from a coaching standpoint," said Jones, following a week wherein his three coordinators conducted practice in McCarthy's absence.
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December 6 Updates
2:45 p.m. – Cowboys TE Peyton Hendershot was activated back onto the 53-man roster on Wednesday after spending a few weeks on the injured reserve, and he is looking forward to being back on the field on Sunday against Philadelphia.
"Awesome to be back," Hendershot said. "[I'll do] anything to help this team win. We're on a good win streak right now. They have a lot of good momentum going on offense, defense, special teams, all sides of it. Whatever my role is, I'll do it to the best of my ability. When I have a chance to make a play and rise above that, I'll do it. That's my mindset."
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11:38 a.m. – The Cowboys have made a swap at the tight end position, activating Peyton Hendershot to the active roster after he's been on IR for most of the season.
The Cowboys were able to place Sean McKeon now on injured reserve, opening the door for Hendershot, who has played in just three games this year.
Hendershot missed two games with an ankle injury and then went to IR for four weeks. The Cowboys opened his 21-day practice window, which ended this week.
Hendershot joins a tight end room led by Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker.
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11:21 a.m. – The Cowboys have opened the 21-day practice window for offensive tackle Matt Waletzko on Wednesday.
Waletzko, a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2022, went to IR on Aug. 30 with a shoulder injury. He spent most of the offseason and training camp as a backup tackle but suffered the injury, similar to one that also sidelined him for most of his rookie year.
At offensive tackle, the Cowboys have been starting both Tyron Smith and Terence Steele for the past few games, with Chuma Edoga serving as the backup. Asim Richards has been inactive the last three weeks.
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November 30 Updates
11 p.m. — The leap in Year 2 by Jake Ferguson continues to be a superb one, and the Seattle Seahawks are now the latest victims of his level-up. The former fourth-round pick joined with Dak Prescott to deliver the go-ahead touchdown that gave the Cowboys a 38-35 lead late in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks (inclusive of a two-point conversion from Prescott to Brandin Cooks).
The touchdown wasn't only one of the best catches Ferguson has made this season, but it also put him in rare air — extremely rare — tying with future first-ballot Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten for second-most receiving touchdowns by a Cowboys' tight end in the first two seasons with the team (7).
The current record (9) belongs to Billy Joe Dupree, and Ferguson will have a chance to tie or take the record against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14, a team he's routinely found pay dirt against since entering the league in 2022.
Ferguson has been as advertised and much more in the mission to prove he's a worthy successor to not only Dalton Schultz, but also to the former Cowboy he just pulled up alongside in the category of receiving touchdowns to start an NFL career.
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6:00 p.m. — A decision is looming on tight end Peyton Hendershot, but it's not been made ahead of the looming matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. The second-year talent remains on injured reserve for this contest, the Dallas Cowboys having chosen to not yet place him on the active roster.
The 21-day window for Hendershot expires early next week, and he must either be placed on the active roster or remain on IR for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.
There is an additional tight end on the field against Seattle, however, but his name is Princeton Fant, who was elevated from the practice squad on Thursday morning. It marks the first of three eligible elevations for Fant, the undrafted rookie taking the same field tonight as his cousin, Noah Fant.
Inactives against the Seahawks include Deuce Vaughn, Asim Richards, Noah Igbinoghene, Eric Scott, Jalen Brooks and Trey Lance, the latter serving as emergency quarterback.
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3:46 p.m. - The Cowboys used one practice squad elevation on Thursday for their game with the Seahawks, bringing up tight end Princeton Fant for the first time this year.
Fant, an undrafted rookie from Tennessee, spent training camp and the preseason with the Cowboys. He caught two passes for 10 yards in the preseason games.
With Fant, the Cowboys will have four tight ends active against Seattle in Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Sean McKeon.
The team is close to bringing back Peyton Hendershot, who has been on injured reserve with an ankle injury but is in the 21-day practice window to return.
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