Randy Gregory is active and available to play for the first time all season Monday night against the Detroit Lions, and the Cowboys definitely are in need of depth at defensive end with starters Tyrone Crawford (shoulder/hamstring) and DeMarcus Lawrence (back) inactive.
Five key starters and rotation players are inactive for the Cowboys' primetime matchup at AT&T Stadium: Crawford, Lawrence, cornerback Morris Claiborne (groin), linebacker Justin Durant (elbow) and defensive tackle Cedric Thornton (ankle).
Claiborne, Lawrence, Durant and Thornton were officially ruled out of the game on Friday. Crawford was listed as doubtful after missing practice all week with injuries sustained in the Week 15 win over Tampa Bay.
Also inactive against Detroit are Cowboys backup quarterback Mark Sanchez and backup running back Alfred Morris.
Earlier Monday the Cowboys activated Gregory from the Exempt/Commissioner Permission list and waived defensive end Zach Moore to make room on the 53-man roster. During the week Gregory became eligible to practice for the first time since serving a combined 14-game NFL suspension for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
Gregory, the Cowboys' 2015 second-round pick, recorded 11 tackles and no sacks in 12 games last year.
