After seeing defensive back Zion Childress get poached earlier this week off the practice squad, the Dallas Cowboys quickly filled his spot on the practice squad on Thursday with an ex-Green Bay Packers defender, days ahead of their primetime showdown on Sunday.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Dallas has signed veteran defensive back Corey Ballentine to their practice squad. Ballentine was most recently with the New England Patriots, who cut ties on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old Ballentine hopes to provide the Cowboys with a defender who can play special teams if promoted from the practice squad. Additionally, he can give some intel on the Packers’ defensive scheme.
Cowboys Pick Up Ex-Packer Corey Ballentine Ahead of Week 4 Showdown vs. Green Bay
Before getting cut by the Patriots earlier this week, the veteran defender spent three seasons in Green Bay, with one of those years under the direction of Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
During his time in Green Bay, the 5-foot-11 cornerback mostly played special teams outside of the 2023 season, where he made six starts. Last year, under Hafley (first year as Packers DC), Ballentine appeared in 15 games (made one start), spending most of his time on special teams.
Since he was signed just two days before kickoff, it will be interesting to see if Dallas calls him up from the practice squad.
If the Cowboys do that, then there’s a chance the former Packer will be in Dallas at least past this week, as most players have three practice squad elevations before having to be officially signed to the active roster.
In his lone regular-season game with the Patriots, Ballentine played 20 special teams snaps in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
But if Dallas doesn’t call him up from the practice squad and then cuts him a day or two after Sunday’s game, then we’ll know that the signing was more to gather intel on Green Bay, which isn’t uncommon.
As a practice squad signing, it won’t cost Dallas anything to cut the ex-Packer, as they can easily find another defensive back to fill that spot. However, for Ballentine’s sake, he’s trying to stick in Dallas and help out in any way possible, as this defense hasn’t looked great to start the regular season.