Despite the Cowboys having an injured starter and just two other rookies on the depth chart, running back Tashard Choice has been released Saturday morning, hours before the team departs for Philadelphia.
Cutting Choice opens up a roster spot for linebacker Bruce Carter, who comes off the NFI (Non-football injury) list and will likely make his NFL debut Sunday night against the Eagles.
Soon after news of his release broke, Choice tweeted, "I just want to say thanks to all the great dallas cowboy fans. My time in Dallas has come to an end and the best is yet come. God bless."
While Choice's future has been in question for some time, this week is somewhat surprising considering Felix Jones is out with a high-ankle sprain and the Cowboys will now have just two rookies at running back in DeMarco Murray and undrafted free agent Phillip Tanner.
Murray is coming off a franchise-record 253-yard performance against the Rams. Tanner also got his first career carries and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
It's likely that both Murray and Tanner will get all the reps Sunday night against Philly.
As for Choice, a fourth-round pick in 2008, his stint with the Cowboys ends on a sour note. He fumbled in each of the last two games and never quite took advantage of some opportunities this year, averaging 2.7 yards on 28 carries.
He had some nice moments during his career, including his rookie season in which he carried the load against four stout defenses in the final month of the season. Over three and a half seasons, he rushed 250 times for 1,139 yards (4.6 avg) with eight touchdowns while adding 64 catches for 497 yards.
Yet Choice, who was never a solid special teams player, always found himself searching for playing time behind starters Marion Barber, Jones and now Murray.
