Michael Sam joins Dallas Cowboys practice squad
Former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam signed with the Dallas Cowboys to join their practice squad on Wednesday. Sam was cut by the St. Louis Rams four days ago.
Sam, who is seeking to become the NFL’s first openly gay active player, has already cleared waivers following his dismal from the Rams
and was not added to their practice squad. His addition to Dallas was announced by head coach Jason Garrett, who repeatedly referred to Sam as being
a “practice-squad player” despite the significance of the acquisition.
Via ESPN.com:
“We’re bringing a player in we wanted to see on the practice field and got nothing but good reports about him from our people and the people in St. Louis,” Garrett said. “We just want to give him a chance to come in and see if he can help our football team.”
The 24-year-old is coming off a productive preseason where he had 11 total tackles including three sacks. However, despite his performance,
he was outplayed for one of the final spots on the 53-man roster by fellow rookie defensive end Ethan Westbrooks, who went undrafted out of West
Texas A&M.
The former co-SEC Defensive Player of the Year will be joining a Cowboys’ team that will welcome his pass rushing skills to a defensive line that
has lost two of their top pass rushers in DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher via free agency. Along with those departures, Dallas is currently dealing
with injuries to defensive end George Selvie and free agent addition defensive tackle Terrell McClain.
The Cowboys also placed rookie second round pick defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on the short injured reserve list on Tuesday due a
broken foot. He will not be able to play until the eighth game of the season.
Sam, who is seeking to become the NFL’s first openly gay active player, has already cleared waivers following his dismal from the Rams
and was not added to their practice squad. His addition to Dallas was announced by head coach Jason Garrett, who repeatedly referred to Sam as being
a “practice-squad player” despite the significance of the acquisition.
Via ESPN.com:
“We’re bringing a player in we wanted to see on the practice field and got nothing but good reports about him from our people and the people in St. Louis,” Garrett said. “We just want to give him a chance to come in and see if he can help our football team.”
The 24-year-old is coming off a productive preseason where he had 11 total tackles including three sacks. However, despite his performance,
he was outplayed for one of the final spots on the 53-man roster by fellow rookie defensive end Ethan Westbrooks, who went undrafted out of West
Texas A&M.
The former co-SEC Defensive Player of the Year will be joining a Cowboys’ team that will welcome his pass rushing skills to a defensive line that
has lost two of their top pass rushers in DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher via free agency. Along with those departures, Dallas is currently dealing
with injuries to defensive end George Selvie and free agent addition defensive tackle Terrell McClain.
The Cowboys also placed rookie second round pick defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on the short injured reserve list on Tuesday due a
broken foot. He will not be able to play until the eighth game of the season.