Credit: Roger Steinman/AP
In a Cowboys Wire article written by K.D. Drummond, Drummond identified 11 veteran players who could be cut before the 2024 season. Linebacker Damien Wilson is surprisingly on that list. Wilson, a Super Bowl champion linebacker who rejoined the Dallas Cowboys last season, is facing an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster in 2024.
Wilson, originally drafted by the Cowboys in 2015, spent most of his career as a starting linebacker before winning a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.
After stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers, Wilson signed with the Cowboys’ practice squad towards the end of the 2023 season.
However, as the Cowboys Wire article points out, Wilson has never worked with new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and is currently behind several younger linebackers on the depth chart.
Cowboys Wire’s K.D. Drummond writes:
“Wilson, an original Cowboys’ draft pick, went elsewhere and found glory, winning a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. Out of the league, Dallas signed him down the stretch of 2023 when the ranks shrank, and brought him back this offseason. He has never worked with Zimmer and is probably around LB5 or LB6, so if any of the youngsters behind him show up he could be at risk.”
Uphill Battle for Roster Spot
Wilson’s path to the roster
Wilson faces an uphill battle to make the roster, with several younger players vying for linebacker spots.
The Cowboys signed UFL standout Willie Harvey Jr. in the offseason, who led the league in tackles and made the All-UFL team.
Additionally, the Cowboys have 2023 third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown, who missed his rookie season due to injury, along with fourth-year man Buddy Johnson and converted safety Markquese Bell.
During his eight seasons in the NFL, Wilson has amassed impressive career totals of 419 tackles and nine sacks in 127 games and 73 games started.
His best season came in 2021 with the Jaguars, where he posted 106 tackles and three sacks.
While it would be a heartwarming story if Wilson continued his career with the Cowboys nearly a decade after his draft, the reality is that he faces stiff competition from younger players who have had more time to work with the coaching staff.
As the Cowboys look to build on their success and make a deep playoff run in 2024, tough decisions will need to be made regarding the roster.
The road to making the team is not easy for Wilson, but his experience and talent could still give him a chance to prove his worth during training camp and preseason.
This report used information from Heavy.com
