Cowboys 53-man roster projection ahead of final 2022 cutdowns

The Dallas Cowboys have completed their exhibition schedule and now have until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday to whittle their offseason roster down to the regular season version. Dallas will have a 53-man roster, like all other teams and depending on one decision will have either a 16-man or 17-man practice squad to form the following day.

Breaking down the current 81-man offseason roster, it feels as if the Cowboys have 45 guys who have secured a place, another six who are more-than-likely names and then four players who will be part of a returnable-IR shuffle on Tuesday into Wednesday.  Of the six more-than-likelies, those are players who could be involved in trades, or swapped out with guys currently identified as practice squad candidates.

In this prediction, the Cowboys have eight rookies make the big club with another eight on the practice squad. Of the eight on the 53, two are UDFAs while two drafted rooks end up on the practice squad.

Here’s a complete breakdown of how the roster should look come Tuesday.

Quarterbacks

I’m sure he’s on the team:

Dak Prescott

Pretty sure he makes it:

Will Grier

Making it, but moving to IR:

None

Cut but coming right back:

None

Cut to go to practice squad:

Cooper Rush

Going to PUP/NFI/Season-ending IR:

None

Cut cut:

Ben DiNucci

Position Notes:

While it appears that the Cowboys have decided Rush is Prescott’s backup based on his limited work Friday night, and Grier not taking the job by storm, for some reason I think Grier gets the nod.

Part of that is the club wouldn’t have to protect Rush to get him on the practice squad. The staff has proven they can create a winning gameplan around a limited backup (Rush’s win over the Vikings). Why wouldn’t they feel confident they could do the same with the more athletic Grier?

Running Backs

I’m sure he’s on the team:

Ezekiel Elliott
Tony Pollard
Rico Dowdle

Pretty sure he makes it:

None

Making it, but moving to IR:

None

Cut but coming right back:

None

Cut to go to practice squad:

Malik Davis (R)

Going to PUP/NFI/Season-ending IR:

Aaron Shampklin (IR)

Cut cut:

None

Position Notes:

Shampklin’s injury likely makes him a stash until 2023 when either Elliott or Pollard could be gone (or both). Davis should be fine making it to the practice squad and could easily see action during the season. There was some trepidation knowing Dallas wants to extensively use Elliott and Pollard, in not carrying…