BREAKING: COWBOYS RELEASE WR JALEN CROPPER AS CEEDEE LAMB, TURPIN SET TO RETURN
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Dallas Cowboys have released wide receiver Jalen Cropper. However, the team is still hoping to retain Cropper moving forward. Archer says there is hope Cropper makes it through the waiver process before being resigned to the practice squad.
“The Cowboys have released WR Jalen Cropper, per source, with the impending returns of CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin,” Archer said via X. “The hope is Cropper passes through waivers and returns to practice squad.”
Cropper has played in three games this season for the Cowboys, getting most of his work on the special teams unit. Turpin being out means a return man was needed and Cropper stepped up to the plate. Three punt returns resulted in a total of 27 yards, while adding 38 more yards on two kickoff returns. Only eight offensive snaps are on the 2025 resume for Cropper.
Playing his college ball at Fresno State, Cropper went through the 2023 NFL Draft process only to go unselected. He quickly signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent and competed for a roster spot. Unfortunately, most of his time with the Cowboys has been spent on the practice squad.
Who knows, another opportunity might pop up in the coming weeks. If Dallas can get Cropper back on the practice squad, they will keep him ready to go.
Dallas Cowboys expecting big boost with return of CeeDee Lamb, KeVontae Turpin
George Pickens emerging as a top wide receiver continues to be a great story in Dallas. Trading a third-round pick for him, the original goal was to find somebody to complement Lamb. But due to Lamb’s injury, Pickens stepped into the role of being WR1.
Now, there appears to be a chance Lamb returns for Sunday’s divisional game against the Washington Commanders. Few players in the league are better at their respective position than Lamb, torching up secondaries since being a first-round pick out of Oklahoma. You know Dak Prescott is excited to get his top weapon back on the field and continue to make big plays with Pickens.
Turpin certainly has his own place in the Cowboys’ offense. An offseason goal from Brian Schottenheimer centered around getting Turpin more involved. Before his injury, things were going well. However, most of his explosives come in the return game.
Dallas goes into the Washington game needing a victory. After all, there is still a ton to play for in the NFC East.
Why Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs missed Wednesday practice ahead of Bears tilt
The Dallas Cowboys prepared for their Week 3 matchup against the winless Chicago Bears at Soldier Field without starting cornerback Trevon Diggs on Wednesday. Diggs, 26, missed practice due to an illness, joining fellow cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) on the list of non-participants. Tyler Guyton (shoulder) and KaVontae Turpin (neck) were on the field for practice but with limited reps.
Diggs has been a star of the Cowboys’ secondary since entering the NFL in 2020. Across six seasons, Diggs has compiled 185 solo tackles, 35 assists, one sack, a fumble recovery, and 20 interceptions, garnering two Pro Bowl honors. In Week 2 against the New York Giants, he took part in 91 percent of defensive snaps, indicating a return to his customary snap cadence after recovering from previous injuries. Although absent from Wednesday’s practice, nothing suggests that he will miss Sunday’s contest.
Bland remains out with a right-foot injury sustained on September 8, unrelated to the left-foot stress fracture that cost him 10 games last season. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said it’s unlikely that Bland will be ready for Week 3. Meanwhile, Turpin, who exited Sunday’s win over the Giants with a neck injury, was limited in practice, and Guyton was restricted due to a shoulder issue.
The Cowboys will also be without center Cooper Beebe, who suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Giants and has been placed on injured reserve. Brock Hoffman stepped in as the starting center for Sunday’s matchup.
Dallas’ defense will also look to bolster its pass rush with newly signed free-agent Jadeveon Clowney. The 32-year-old recorded 46 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks last season with the Carolina Panthers and is likely to make his Cowboys debut against Chicago.
On the other side, the Bears face their own injury challenges in the secondary. Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (groin) and Kyle Gordon (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, and linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) and defensive lineman Grady Jarrett (knee) were also absent.
