Julius Wood Returns to Cowboys' Practice Squad After Drug Suspension and Injury Setbacks
After he went undrafted out of East Carolina in 2024, defensive back Julius Wood has several offers on hand, including from the Cowboys. With good reason–during his time with the Pirates, he’d started 24 straight games and developed a reputation as a hard-hitting safety who twice led the team in tackles from the defensive backfield and was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection.
Wood ultimately chose to sign on with Dallas, and said at the time, “I feel like it was the situation, the roster aspect — that was the most important — being able to compete. Really, it came down to where I feel like was the best fit. … I felt like the Cowboys, in my heart, was the place I needed to be at.
He spent that summer with the Cowboys but was, ultimately released at the end of camp. Wood did sign on with Tennessee, though, and was put on the active roster, playing nine games, mostly on special teams.
On Tuesday, though, Dallas announced that Wood is back, as the team wrote on Twitter/X: “The @dallascowboys signed DB Julius Wood to the practice squad.”
Julius Wood Suspended in 2024
Wood’s NFL career got off to an ignominious start with the Titans because, after making appearances in the kicking game and getting five snaps as a defensive back, the NFL suspended him for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. It was a six-game suspension.
But Wood has turned the page on last season, and is back with a chance to help the Cowboys out of a desperate situation with their defensive backs. Malik Hooker is out with a toe injury and has been placed on IR, which will keep him out for at least four games, though perhaps longer.
The team started Juanyeh Thomas in Hooker’s place in Week 5, and elevated Alijah Clark from the practice squad, opening a spot for Wood.
Cowboys Hoping to Get Healthy
The injury-ravaged Cowboys are 2-2-1 and sorting through the timetables of getting players back in the next two weeks. The hope is that their interior offensive linemen–at least Tyler Booker and Tyler Smith–will be on the field in Week 6. There’s hope that CeeDee Lamb will return in either Week 6 or 7, too.
“It’s still early. I think we’ll find out more in the next couple of days. I think we’re trending in the right direction on a few guys,” coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters.
“I’m seeing progress on all the guys. Whether they’re able to make it to this weekend? We’ll see, but I do think we’re closing in on some good markers for these guys in the next couple of weeks.”
NBA Star Damian Lillard Wants Browns QB Shedeur Sanders in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Raiders superfan Damian Lillard is fed up following the team’s 1-4 start and the NBA star wants to see the team give Shedeur Sanders a shot
The Raiders fell to 1-4 on Sunday, losing to the Indianapolis Colts 40-6. Quarterback Geno Smith has been among the worst passers in the league, throwing for just six touchdowns and nine interceptions — the most in the NFL.
With the Raiders reeling, Lillard wants to see the team make a move for Sanders, who is currently the No. 3 quarterback on the Browns‘ depth chart, behind both starter Dillon Gabriel and veteran Joe Flacco.
“Time to gone ahead and trade for Shedeur man smfh,” Lillard wrote on X during the game.
The Raiders are likely going to give Smith a little more time to turn things around before resorting to a trade. He signed a two-year contract extension with the Raiders in April worth up to $85.5 million with $66.5 million guaranteed.
The Raiders were among the teams rumored to be interested in Sanders during the draft. However, the Raiders passed on Sanders multiple times during his stunning draft slide to the fifth round. Sanders is close with Tom Brady, who is a minority owner of the Raiders.
“I wasn’t a part of any evaluation process,” Brady said. “I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well, and I said, ‘Dude, like, whatever happens, wherever you go, like, that’s your first day. Day 2 matters more than the draft. I was [pick] 199. So, who could speak on it better than me, like, what that really means? Use it as motivation. You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.'”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Feels Ready for Opportunity
Sanders’ opportunities have been limited with the Browns so far. He’s served as the emergency quarterback for the first five weeks of the season, only available to enter the game if both Flacco and Gabriel are injured.
Sanders recently expressed that he feels like he’s ready to play, also saying he could do better than some of the quarterback play he’s seen around the league.
“I know if you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that,” Sanders said. “(There’s) obvious a lot of teams would be playing me, but that’s not in God’s plan right now. And some things happen for a reason and I’m a true believer in that. And whatever his plan for me is, I believe in it. So I don’t be stressed or feel bad that I’m in the situation I’m in right now. It’s just funny to me and I just enjoy it.”
Shedeur Sanders Could See Field at Some Point for Browns
Sanders will have to remain patient but there’s a chance he’ll get a shot later this season if the Browns continue to struggle. Gabriel was solid in his debut, passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-17 loss to the Vikings in London. He’ll have to keep it up to avoid calls for Sanders to grow louder.
“All of our players, and I include Shedeur in this, are working extremely hard. We just finished our period after practice that we do every single day, just finished a red zone 7-on-7 period where Shedeur and the rest of the younger guys are working on 10 reps,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said last week. “So, he needs to continue to do exactly what he’s been doing and continue to do what all these guys are doing, which is just keep working.”
The Browns will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in an important divisional game. Cleveland is a 4.5-point underdog for the matchup.
