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Dallas Cowboys release Mark Nzeocha; Trade for Jayrone Elliott

By Steven Mullenax

GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 28: Jay Elliott #91 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after sacking quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half at Lambeau Field on September 28, 2015 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 38-28. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 28: Jay Elliott #91 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after sacking quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half at Lambeau Field on September 28, 2015 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 38-28. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Cowboys continue to make changes to their 53-man roster on Sunday, releasing linebacker Mark Nzeocha and trading for his replacement.

Although the Dallas Cowboys trimmed down their roster from 90 players to just 53 on Saturday afternoon, their work is far from done. After reportedly being awarded former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Brian Price off the waiver wire, Dallas promptly decided to cut veteran Cedric Thornton to make room.

And now, the Cowboys have apparently elected to make another change, this time at linebacker. According to ESPN.com, Dallas has decided to release third-year linebacker Mark Nzeocha. The former 2015 seventh round selection out of Wyoming struggled with injuries during his two seasons with the Cowboys.

Nzeocha played in only seven games for Dallas in two years, recording a total of three tackles. He’ll now be replaced on the roster by former Packers’ linebacker Jayrone Elliott, whom the Cowboys traded a conditional seventh round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft to Green Bay in exchange for on Sunday.

Primarily a special teams player, Elliott joins the Cowboys after three seasons with the Packers. In that time, the 25-year old recorded 57 total tackles, 4.0 sacks, two pass defends, one interception and a forced fumble.

Elliott could have value as a situational pass rusher at defensive end for Dallas as he was able to record those 4.0 sacks in Green Bay despite limited opportunities on defense. In 2015, he had three of those sacks despite playing only 173 defensive snaps that season.

Next: Cowboys cut Cedric Thornton; Add two defenders

The fourth year linebacker now joins a group in Dallas that boasts two-time Pro Bowler Sean Lee as it’s starter on the weakside. With Anthony Hitchens still recovering from a knee injury, veteran Justin Durant and second-year phenom Jaylon Smith are expected to help fill the vacancy at middle linebacker. Rounding out the linebacker corps in Dallas are Damien Wilson and Kyle Wilber.

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