Thursday’s Minor NFL Transactions Include Cowboys Cut, Practice-Squad Signings and Buccaneers Elevations Ahead of Week 5

With the NFL approaching its Week 5 matchups, several teams made routine but meaningful depth-chart adjustments on Thursday. According to Pro Football Rumors, the list of minor transactions included a Dallas Cowboys move involving running back Emari Demercado, practice-squad elevations tied to game-day availability, and additional signings that reshuffle the back-end of active rosters.

For Dallas, the Cowboys reportedly waived running back Emari Demercado. The transaction type matters because waiver status can change how quickly a player is available if another club claims him, while still giving the team flexibility to adjust its game-day running back mix. The timing, coming just ahead of the Buccaneers-Cowboys opener, underscores the emphasis teams place on having the right skill-set and special-teams options ready immediately.

On the defensive side, Dallas also reportedly elevated cornerback Reddy Steward. Elevations are a common mechanism used to ensure teams can carry extra contributors without permanently relocating them to the active roster. In practice, the move can be tied to matchup-specific coverage needs or special-teams value, especially when a Week 5 game introduces new offensive personnel to prepare for.

Elsewhere, Green Bay reportedly added running back Pierre Strong by signing him from the practice squad. Practice-squad signings often indicate a team’s plan to increase depth at a position where game plans can require more snaps, more versatile roles, or simply protection against a short-week change in availability.

The New England Patriots were also active with a practice-squad signing of safety Mike Brown, again per the same report. From a roster construction standpoint, moving a player from practice squad to the active mix can reflect both immediate needs and longer-term evaluation, as teams balance the week-to-week reality of injuries with the strategic value of having developmental players ready to step in.

In Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers reportedly elevated safety J.J. Roberts and quarterback Easton Stick. Game-day elevations for defensive back roles are especially typical when coordinators want additional options in coverage packages. For the quarterback, elevating Easton Stick can be about ensuring stable depth behind the starters, since quarterback rotations and backup availability are tightly managed in the NFL.

Notably, these moves were described as “minor” transactions, which usually means they are roster mechanics rather than major, headline-grabbing trades or contract restructuring. Still, the accumulation of such moves can shift practice reps, special-teams rotations, and in-game decision-making, particularly for teams trying to lock in roles early in the season.

Going forward, the most important thing to watch is whether any of the waived or signed players draw additional interest from other teams, which can affect the depth charts beyond their original clubs. It is also worth monitoring how the elevations translate to playing time and whether the moved players appear in the roles the teams appear to be preparing for in Week 5 and beyond.