The interior defensive line has been a major problem for the Dallas Cowboys. While Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa have struggled for the past month, it would certainly help if 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith could at least reach a competent level of play.
Smith has rotated being inactive with rookie seventh-round pick Jay Toia. The former Michigan star is the least of Dallas' concerns right now, but he's put out extremely bad film in the five games he's played, posting just two tackles and a 37.8 run-defense grade, via PFF. He doesn't belong on the active roster.
While it remains to be seen if the Cowboys will outright cut him, the activation of Perrion Winfrey's 21-day practice window could set the stage for Smith's exit.
Cowboys finally open DT Perrion Winfrey's practice window
#Cowboys transaction:
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) October 29, 2025
Perrion Winfrey will have his 21-day practice window opened today, and will be on the field on Wednesday.
It will mark his first practice of the 2025 regular season.
It's about time!
Cowboys fans were starting to question if Winfrey was still on the team. He made the initial 53-man roster in August, but suffered a back injury before the regular season that landed him on injured reserve. It would've been interesting to see the DT rotation if Winfrey stayed healthy, given how well he performed in training camp and the preseason.
Now that he's on the verge of returning, Matt Eberflus would be smart to insert him the second he's cleared for action. Solomon Thomas has arguably been the Cowboys' most consistent interior defender this season. That's how bad it is.
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Winfrey is more known for getting upfield than being an anchor against the run, but he showed serious run-stopping chops over the summer. He's powerful and plays extremely physically. That, unfortunately, cannot be said about Smith, who is still getting reached way too easily and allowing opposing offensive linemen to climb to the second level without much resistance.
Brian Schottenheimer and Eberflus hoped that benching Smith in the first two games would send a message. While he may have responded in practice, it hasn't translated on Sundays. It is painfully obvious that Smith isn't going to work out in Dallas.
If Winfrey shows any kind of juice post-injury, he needs to be added to the active roster. It doesn't make sense financially to outright cut or even trade Smith. That can wait until the offseason. But demoting him to make room for Winfrey has to be on the table.