Dallas Cowboys sign free agent linebacker Damien Wilson

The Dallas Cowboys are bringing linebacker Damien Wilson back to the squad for the 2024 season, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. Wilson became a free agent in March after signing to the active roster to end the 2023 regular season. He didn’t play in a game for the Cowboys in 2023, but provided depth on the practice squad, then the active roster.

The Cowboys originally drafted Wilson with a fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He played out his rookie contract, before signing deals with the Chiefs, then the Jaguars, then the Carolina Panthers.

The Cowboys have agreed to terms with veteran LB Damien Wilson, who ended last year on the active roster but did not play in a game, per a source. More depth at the position.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 29, 2024

If Wilson sees the field the season for Dallas in 2024, it will be his first appearance since Week 18 for the Panthers in 2022. Carolina released him in March of 2023. He received a four-game suspension from the league for violating the Personal Conduct Policy after he faced a charge of assault with bodily injury of a family member following an altercation with his ex-girlfriend.

Wilson’s best season came with the Jaguars in 2021. He tallied 106 tackles on the season with three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.

So far, through nine seasons, Wilson has racked up 419 tackles, nine sacks, five forced fumbles, 30.5 tackles for loss and one interception. In his lone season for the Panthers, he had 38 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and three tackles for loss.

The 2024 season will be Wilson’s 10th in the league. Dallas drafted him after two seasons at Minnesota, where he earned All-Big Ten recognition. Though he played in all 16 regular season games for the Cowboys to start his career, he primarily served as a backup. Injuries to teammates helped him move into the starter role on several occasions during his first stint with the team.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams could enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marked the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marked the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offer sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline was the 2024 NFL Draft, which ran from April 25-27.