Cowboys waive RB Emeri Demercado after activating Tyler Smith from injured reserve

The Dallas Cowboys made a pair of related transaction moves on Thursday, activating left guard Tyler Smith from injured reserve and, to make room on the active roster, waiving running back Emeri Demercado. The active-list adjustment underscores the Cowboys’ push to align their depth chart ahead of what will be a crucial stretch of games, with Smith back in the interior offensive line rotation after time missed due to injury.

According to the Cowboys’ announcement, Smith’s return from injured reserve came with a corresponding roster move that cleared space for his participation. That timing matters in the NFL because once a player is activated, the team must ensure it has the available roster spots to dress the right mix of linemen and skill players for game week demands, including special teams needs and game-day personnel packages.

Demercado, meanwhile, is now off the Cowboys’ active roster after being waived. The running back previously entered Dallas by way of the waiver wire, having been claimed off of waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of Week 1. That background adds extra context to the move, as it suggests Dallas saw enough value in his game-day availability at the start of the season to secure him, then later determined he was expendable relative to other roster priorities after Smith’s activation.

In limited action for Dallas, Demercado recorded five rushing attempts for 15 yards across two appearances. Those touches were part of a short window of production and, in practical terms, illustrate why a team might make a roster switch when a returning starter at another position becomes available. With the active roster being finite, a return from injured reserve often forces tough decisions about which backups remain on the 53-man list.

Waivers also create a second life for a player like Demercado. Once a player is waived, other teams can claim him, and the waiver process often becomes a way for contenders and division rivals to look for low-risk depth at a position of need. For Dallas, the decision also shapes how they will manage their running back rotation from here, including whether they will lean more heavily on the remaining backs already on the roster or seek additional options through the waiver wire or subsequent roster adjustments.

For Smith, the activation is the central competitive storyline. The left guard position is a key role in the offensive line’s balance and pass-protection structure, and having a returning starter available can shift how the Cowboys practice and plan their in-game formations. Even if Smith does not end up playing a full workload immediately, the return itself gives Dallas a lever it did not have while he was on injured reserve.

What to watch next is how the Cowboys finalize their active-week lineup and whether Demercado clears waivers or is claimed by another team. If he is claimed, it can indicate that other franchises viewed his Week 1 arrival and brief production as worth maintaining. If he clears, it would likely open the door to him landing on a different roster role, depending on how the waiver outcome unfolds and how Dallas’ needs evolve after Smith’s return.