FRISCO, Texas -- On Monday, the Cowboys placed defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey (back) on injured reserve, which will sideline him from game action until at least October 12 when Dallas faces Carolina.
Winfrey, 25, signed with the Cowboys back in June and after a strong camp made the team's 53-man roster. He had spent time previously in the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions, where he was an All-UFL player, and became the only UFL player from the 2025 season to sign to an NFL 53-man roster.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer had an emotional interaction with Winfrey when breaking the news that he'd made the team, where both Schottenheimer and Winfrey broke down in tears of joy.
"The emotion of it, seeing Perrion react like that, showed me two things: the passion he has for this game and the pain he's had to go through of having it taken away from him, and not knowing if this would work out or not," Schottenheimer said. "I told him, 'The reason we wanted to do it is because we wanted to see your reaction. We figured you'd react this [way].' He did not disappoint. He's a special young man. 鈥 who deserves this opportunity, and has earned it."
Not only do the Cowboys have a spot on the active roster to fill, but the move could also cause them to find a replacement on the game day roster. One of the options there is at Winfrey's same position in Mazi Smith, who was a healthy inactive in Week 1 against Philadelphia. If Smith wants that chance, he'll have to prove himself to Schottenheimer and the staff in practice.
"Mazi is going to play a lot of really good football," Schottenheimer said following Dallas' Week 1 loss. "He's not even begun to reach his peak, but the consistency has not been there and therefore, if your philosophy is [to] compete every day, then that's what you have to do. Make those decisions."
In terms of who Dallas can bring up to the active roster, they can look externally or on their practice squad. As it stands, the Cowboys only have four wide receivers on the active roster, which would make a player like Ryan Flournoy, who can contribute on special teams, an option.
There will be plenty of decisions that need to be made from a roster moves standpoint, but time to do it with Dallas' Week 2 matchup against the Giants still sitting six days away.
