Fourteen of Dallas' 25 Week 1 defenders are off NFL rosters

Mazi Smith was waived after one season with New York

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 311 min read

What happened: The Cowboys cut Jay Toia and Sam Williams during their reduction to 53 players. Damone Clark received an injury/release designation.

Why it matters: The churn underscores the scope of Dallas' defensive overhaul entering 2026. The decisions clear paths for a substantially different rotation this season.

By the numbers: Fourteen of 25 equals 56%, leaving 11 from the Week 1 group on NFL rosters.

What to watch: Waiver claims and practice-squad moves will determine the next stops for Toia, Williams and Smith.

Sources

r/cowboys 2026-08-31T01:28:02.194334+00:00

CONVERSATION

Loading comments…

NFLAnalysisDallas CowboysNew York JetsDamone ClarkJay Toia

Follow NFL Intelligence

Real-time signals and analysis

@WireReportNFL

WR Pro

The day's sports, briefed to your inbox at 7am ET. Every claim sourced.

$9/month Free weekly newsletter →