Cowboys get to the 53-man limit after Sunday roster cuts, parting ways with Sam Williams

The Dallas Cowboys have set their active roster at the 53-man limit following Sunday roster maneuverings, according to Pro Football Rumors. The team’s final cut decisions included a release of linebacker Sam Williams as part of a broader trimming process.

Roster cutdowns to 53 are a defining moment for NFL teams, forcing difficult choices across positions and special teams roles. With the Cowboys now at the regular-season maximum, the active group for Week 1 football is set, while the players not retained will head into waiver processes or other immediate offseason opportunities.

Among those listed as released were WR Tyler Johnson, CB Derion Kendrick, C Nick Leverett, WR Denzel Mims, LB Curtis Robinson, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and LB Sam Williams. Each of those moves reflects the final evaluation of depth needs, roster balance, and where the Cowboys believed they could keep the most value on gameday.

The Cowboys also reportedly waived RB Israel Abanikanda, LB Justin Barron, RB Jaydon Blue, and additional players not moving forward on the active roster as the team reached the 53-man mark. Waiver designations matter because they can allow other clubs to claim players, reshaping who each roster carries into the early season.

While this roundup captures who did not make the Cowboys’ final cut, it does not by itself explain the internal grading behind each decision. In most cases, late cuts can be driven by how players fit in specific defensive packages or run-game roles, their special teams readiness, and the overall numbers the team intends to carry at each position.

For the Cowboys, the immediate next step is operational rather than dramatic, but still important: confirming the final depth chart for offense, defense, and special teams, and determining how waiver outcomes could alter the available pool. Beyond that, the coaching staff will turn full attention to preparing the first opponent and locking in the weekly rotation.

The active roster is now set at 53, but the broader roster picture is not complete until waivers and any follow-on transactions play out. Cowboys fans will watch which of the waived players are claimed, and whether any return to Dallas in a different form, such as practice squad additions later.