The Dallas Cowboys, losers of two in a row and three of their last four, have a golden opportunity to right the ship coming out of their bye week when they take on one of the most disappointing teams of 2025, the 2-7 Las Vegas Raiders, in a Monday Night Football matchup.
But the Cowboys are taking no chances, at least with their offensive line depth, after losing a practice squad lineman on Tuesday when former Washington Commanders third round draft pick Geron Christian was given a shot at an active roster spot as the Denver Broncos swooped in and signed him away.
With the 6-foot-5, 302-pound offensive tackle now departed, the Cowboys wasted no time in replacing him with another massive lineman who plays the same tackle position. On Wednesday, Dallas signed 6-foot-4, 307-pound lineman Marcellus Johnson to their practice squad, according to the team’s transaction report.
The Cowboys’ offensive line has not been at the root of the team’s problems, but at 3-5-1 and hopes of returning to the postseason after missing out last year rapidly dwindling, Dallas cannot afford to spring any new leaks. Quarterback Dak Prescott has benefited from the third-lowest sack percentage in the NFL (4.2), going down behind the line of scrimmage just 15 times in nine games, the seventh-lowest total in the league.
Though his offensive line has largely managed to protect him from sacks, Prescott has nonetheless found himself under pressure more than he, or the Cowboys, would like. His average time-to-throw of 2.6 seconds ranks him only 19th in the NFL, among quarterbacks who have taken at least 100 snaps this season.
It would probably take a series of injuries to allow Johnson to take his turn on the active roster protecting Prescott. The difference between the 2024 undrafted free agent and his predecessor Christian is pronounced.
Where Christian has appeared in 63 NFL games, starting 25 for six different teams over seven seasons, Johnson has yet to be on the field for a single snap in game that counts. Since signing a $2.85 million, three-year contract with the New York Giants in 2024 — a contract that was terminated almost immediately in favor of a $225,000 practice squad deal — Johnson has bounced around between the practice squads of the Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts for two seasons.
When the Giants signed Johnson initially, they guaranteed $170,000 of his contract, the most they gave any UDFA in their 2024 class.
The Colts released Johnson from their practice squad on October 14, and he remained without a football home for almost a month before the Cowboys signed him on Wednesday.
At the time of the 2024 draft, one NFL insider said that he had rated Johnson as “a legitimate NFL player,” and graded him “almost as high” as his former Eastern Michigan teammate, Sidy Sow.
Sow, a 6-foot-5, 318-pound offensive lineman was drafted in 2023, in the third round, by the New England Patriots. The Patriots released Sow in August, and the 27-year-old lineman was subsequently signed to the Houston Texans‘ practice squad. The Texans elevated Sow to their active roster on November 8.
Getty Images
Kaden Davis was added to the Browns’ active roster on Wednesday.
The Cleveland Browns are adding a new receiver to the mix, promoting Kaden Davis to the active roster.
The Browns officially announced the move on Wednesday. Davis went undrafted in 2022 and has since bounced around. He’s spent time with the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals on the practice squad. He spent 2023 playing for the Michigan Panthers in the USFL.
Davis spent part of last year and this season on the Browns’ practice squad. He’s been elevated for one game, recording 14 snaps on special teams. Davis also appeared in one game last season.
The Browns don’t expect Davis to be a significant contributor in their wide receiver corps, which features Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond and Cedric Tillman. But he’ll provide depth to the unit, which has struggled for most of this season. If he can continue to make an impact in practice, he might earn himself some targets on game day.
The Browns’ offense has not been able to get going this season, averaging just 16.2 points per game. The production from the team’s wide receivers has been especially troubling. In Week 8, wide receivers accounted for just two targets in a 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots.
The Browns shifted play-callers during the bye week and Jeudy was a beneficiary of the change. Jeudy notched six catches for 78 yards and his first touchdown of the season. He had entered the matchup with just 22 receptions over eight games.
“I think they’re doing a good job of trying to get me going, start the game off and just continue on that momentum,” Jeudy said.
Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel has stressed the importance of getting Jeudy involved as the team’s top receiver. Week 10 was the first time Jeudy looked closer to the Pro Bowl talent he was last season.
“Jerry’s a great player, and want to continue to do that and he played great,” Gabriel said. “I want to get the ball to the best players on our team. That would be the emphasis forever.”
Jeudy is also working on strengthening his connection with Gabriel.
“The more we work with each other, the more confident and the more chemistry we have,” Jeudy said. “So consistency is key. So every day in practice, every week in the game, I see him getting better, and that’s all we could ask for, improvement.”
The Browns’ wide receiver group has yet to be at full strength this season, a tough reality given the lack of proven depth at the position. Tillman returned on Sunday against the Jets, but rookie Isaiah Bond was out with a foot injury.
Tillman appeared in Cleveland’s first four games, posting 11 catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a hamstring injury against the Detroit Lions. He was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 30, designated for return on Nov. 3, and made his comeback against the Jets.
Tillman finished with two receptions for 11 yards in the loss, but his presence was felt. He narrowly missed hauling in a leaping catch early in the game that could have been a momentum-shifting play.
Bond logged limited reps in practice this week. If he’s able to suit up, the Browns could finally get their first look at a full receiving corps when they face the Ravens on Sunday.