
Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Zalubowski/AP/Shutterstock (10464720ec) Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway (11) against the Denver Broncos during the first half of NFL football game, in Denver Browns Broncos Football, Denver, USA – 03 Nov 2019
Cowboys add former standout WR Callaway to a group lacking depth
The Dallas Cowboys made several roster moves over the past few days.
The most notable was adding former standout WR Antonio Callaway to the practice squad. Callaway, who has not played a regular season game since 2020, is considered to be extremely talented but has had several off-the-field issues. These off-the-field problems caused him to slip to the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft despite having the talent to go much higher. He was released by the Cleveland Browns in 2019 amid behavioral issues.
Callaway has the talent to make a difference in this WR room that could definitely use an extra jolt. After failing to acquire a WR at the trade deadline, Dallas has been rumored to be interested in Odell Beckham Jr. to add depth to a WR group that saw Amari Cooper traded in the offseason and has yet to see free agent signing James Washington take the field this season. This move does not necessarily rule out an OBJ signing, but it does, if he is put on the active roster, provide an immediate jolt to an offense that has struggled most of the season.
Callaway has 53 catches for 695 yards and five touchdowns in his career to this point, most of which came in his rookie season when he made 11 starts for Cleveland. He last saw time on the field for the Miami Dolphins two years ago.
Dallas also added a former first-round pick in DE Takkarist McKinley to their practice squad potentially adding more depth to one of the best pass-rush groups in the league. McKinley was the 26th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 NFL Draft; two picks before Dallas selected Michigan star Taco Charlton at 28. McKinley has played 64 games in his six-year career while recording 20 sacks. After four years in Atlanta, McKinley spent time with Cleveland and the Los Angeles Rams.
Since putting C Alec Lindstrom on injured reserve, the Cowboys also signed C Brock Hoffman to the practice squad. Hoffman played for Coastal Carolina and Virginia Tech in college and has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Dallas also released former Utah DE Mike Tafua who has not played a game in his NFL career.