Dallas Cowboys release wide receivers Martavis Bryant, Tyron Johnson from practice squad

Following some new additions this week, the Dallas Cowboys have released veteran wide receivers Martavis Bryant and Tyron Johnson. To make room for familiar newcomers La’el Collins and Damien Wilson, the Cowboys released Bryant and Johnson. While the offensive line and linebackers rooms needed a boost for depth, the wide receivers room is pretty much set as it is as the team heads toward playoffs.

Dallas also added two more to the practice roster this week, rookie running back SaRodorick Thompson out of Texas Tech and LSU wide receiver Racey McMath. In corresponding moves, they released OL Adam Pankey and DT Willington Previlon.

Bryant never appeared in a game for the Cowboys after they signed him to the practice squad in November. However, just last month, Mike McCarthy gave the former Raiders receiver a good endorsement in case any other team needs a pair of hands for a postseason run.

“I really like him,” McCarthy said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “He’s done a really, really good job coming in here, fitting in here. I think just like anybody that’s been away for the amount of time he has, there definitely was a conditioning hurdle to get over. He has lost a little weight. I think he has shown more and more with each opportunity. Excellent personality. He’s just trying to do everything right. I have a lot of respect for the way he has come in here.”

Bryant, 31, last played in an NFL game during the 2018 season with the Las Vegas Raiders. He has been suspended multiple times for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and received his reinstatement in November. Before signing with the Cowboys, Bryant played in the XFL for the Vegas Vipers. In eight games, he hauled in 14 receptions for 154 yards.

Johnson, who previously caught passes for the Chargers, Jaguars and Texans, also did not appear in a game for Dallas this season. The Cowboys signed him to a two-year deal in June before releasing him and adding him back to the team via the practice squad.

Mike McCarthy addresses Cowboys’ interest in Dalvin Cook

The New York Jets decided to release running back Dalvin Cook this week, opening the four-time Pro Bowler up to sign with a team bound for the playoffs.

Naturally, the Dallas Cowboys are among the teams that could be interested in adding him ahead of the playoffs. That’s a possibility that head coach Mike McCarthy addressed on Wednesday.

“Those are questions you are always visiting with and so forth,” McCarthy said. “Obviously I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. Played a number of games against (him) when Dalvin was in Minnesota. I have great respect for him.”

Over the offseason, Minnesota decided to move on from Dalvin Cook, largely as a financial decision. He then signed with the New York Jets, back when Aaron Rodgers was healthy. Instead, the Jets suffered yet another disappointing season before cutting Cook. Now, he seems like a low-risk, high-reward addition for the playoffs.

This season, Cook took a major step back statistically. He’s only carried the ball 67 times in 15 games with one start. He has 214 yards and hasn’t scored a touchdown this season. This comes a year after he started 17 games and carried the ball 264 times for 1,173 and eight touchdowns.

The Cowboys placed rookie running back Deuce Vaughn on injured reserve on Wednesday, meaning he won’t be available for Dallas’ playoff run. Vaughn, the Cowboys sixth-round pick from Kansas State, has an ankle injury.

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.