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3 Cowboys On the Chopping Block After Latest Roster Additions

With the Cowboys adding Jordan Phillips and Carl Lawson, a few players could be on the chopping block over the next few weeks.

By Jovan Alford

Jul 30, 2024; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel and head coach Mike McCarthy during training camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California.
Jul 30, 2024; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel and head coach Mike McCarthy during training camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California. / Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
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2. Viliami Fehoko Jr.

Fehoko Jr. was one of the players we highlighted last week on Sport DFW, who could be cut before playing a regular-season snap.

The 2023 fourth-round pick saw his 53-man roster odds take a massive hit after the team signed Lawson on Thursday. Fehoko is listed under the second-team at DT for the Cowboys, but it's not a guarantee he will make the squad with Lawson and Phillips joining the fold.

Fehoko didn’t play his rookie season as it was spent on injured reserve. That’s not a good sign, given the Cowboys took him in the fourth round. The 24-year-old defensive line played well at San Jose State, recording 43 tackles for loss, and 22 sacks over his last three seasons.

However, that production and ability haven’t translated over to the pros. The former San Jose State star played 37 defensive snaps in last week’s preseason game against the Rams. But he didn’t register a single stat in the Cowboys’ one-point loss to Los Angeles.

Nonetheless, Fehoko has two more preseason games, starting with this weekend’s contest against the Las Vegas Raiders to make an impact on the field. If the former fourth-round pick can’t do that, the Cowboys may have to strongly think about trading him before the regular season starts.

3. Durrell Johnson

The 26-year-old defensive end has a major uphill climb to make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster this summer. Before Dallas’ first preseason game against the Rams, Johnson was listed as the third-team DE behind Chauncey Golston and DeMarcus Lawrence.

The former Liberty defensive lineman wasn’t going to take snaps away from those two EDGE rushers, but having another veteran behind you in Al-Quadin Muhammad and now Lawson, puts Johnson in a tough spot.

The 6-foot-3 defensive end was signed to a reserve/futures contract by the Cowboys in January after being signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Johnson played 25 defensive snaps and managed one total tackle. Dallas likely wants to see more from the former Liberty defensive lineman over the next two games before making a call on his roster spot. He’s competing with a lot of other fringe/depth defensive linemen, who are looking to make the team. 

Since the Cowboys signed Johnson to a futures contract, they believe in his talent. Now he needs to put something on tape.

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