The Dallas Cowboys will have some tough decisions to make over the next few days, with James Houston potentially being someone they have to move on from. There’s an opportunity for the Cowboys to keep him on the roster, especially with the Micah Parsons situation, and how well he played during the preseason, but some believe he could be cut because of other factors.
Randy Gurzi of Sports Illustrated was the latest to predict so, naming him one of three players who could surprisingly be cut heading into the 53-man roster decision.
“It’s tough to see how James Houston IV isn’t on the roster for the Cowboys this season. He was easily their top pass rusher throughout the preseason, showing more than players such as Payton Turner.
“That said, releasing Turner would leave them with a dead cap hit of $2 million. In addition to the monetary reasons for keeping Turner ahead of Houston, Turner could offer versatility as an interior pass rusher on third-downs. Houston deserves a spot, but these factors could lead to some frustrating news when cuts are announced,” Gurzi said.
Will the Cowboys Cut James Houston?
Houston hasn’t made a big name for himself in the NFL after playing at Jackson State, but he really impressed during the preseason. He finished with a sack and four tackles.
He appeared in eight games for the Detroit Lions a year ago.
The youngster has a connection with former Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders, and even credited him for some of the success he’s found throughout his career. In 2022, he spoke with the Clarion Ledger’s Khari Thompson and said that Sanders saw something in him that many others didn’t.
“He saw something in me that not too many people did,” Houston said. “He just allowed me to thrive. I did everything in my power to highlight myself and it’s just been an extreme blessing. Nothing but God.”
What Does the Future Hold for James Houston?
Houston started his college career at the University of Florida before going to Jackson State.
Transferring from the University of Florida to Jackson State wasn’t an easy decision from a career perspective.
Still, Sanders and other coaches believed he had plenty of potential, and it was evident that he did. When speaking about what impressed Houston back then, Jeff Weeks, who was the defensive line coach on Sanders’ staff, said that the coaches were impressed with how he was approaching things on and off the field.
“I just love what he’s done, what he did for us was great but what he did after he left here,” Weeks said. “You know this (Pro Day) is the first time I’ve seen him after he’s left. I watched him in the all-star games, but you don’t get to see him in person. He’s really built himself up, he’s cut up, he looks good, he’s moving well. He took from his last game and he just made himself better and that’s crucial. That’s something he needed to do.”
The Dallas Cowboys will have to finalize their roster, with Houston being a player who’s on the bubble.
If preseason means anything, he should be on the team.
