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Cowboys first cut of training camp could not have been more obvious

The Cowboys' first cut of camp was days in the making.

By Jerry Trotta

Jul 31, 2024; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy talks to quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and quarterback Cooper Rush (10) during training camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2024; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy talks to quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and quarterback Cooper Rush (10) during training camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports / Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
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It's hard to believe that the second week of Dallas Cowboys training camp has started. Before we know it, Mike McCarthy's group will be headed to Cleveland for the regular season opener on Sept. 8. That is exciting as it is scary, but luckily there's a lot that needs to happen before then.

With training camp in full swing, we've already learned so much about the Cowboys' roster. Rico Dowdle has been the best running back in Oxnard, while journeyman receiver Tyron Billy-Johnson has been one of the surprise standouts and is pushing hard to make the team.

The Cowboys' roster currently sits at the allotted 91, but they must shave it to a maximum of 53 players before 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 27. Training camp has been extremely competitive, so some cutthroat decisions await the front office and coaching staff.

Dallas was forced to make an early start in that regard after it signed defensive ends Al-Quadin Muhammad and Shaka Toney in light of Sam Williams' ACL injury.

WR Corey Crooms is the Cowboys' first cut of training camp

Wide receiver Corey Crooms was waived to make room for the additions of Muhammad and Toney, per an official release. It's an unfortunate break for Crooms, who was having a strong camp as an undrafted free agent from Minnesota before he was sidelined by a lower leg injury.

While Crooms impressed on the third-team offense, his fate's been sealed for several days. In response to Crooms' injury, the Cowboys quickly signed UDFA wide receivers Deontay Burnett and Kelvin Harmon. There is now a whopping 12 receivers on the roster.

Crooms faced long odds to make the team to begin with. Being sidelined by an injury was always going to be fatal to his chances.

CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert and (maybe) Jalen Brooks are roster locks. If Dallas keeps six WRs, there is essentially five players competing for two spots: rookie Ryan Flournoy and Tyron Billy-Johnson are the favorites to come out on top, but second-year UDFAs David Durden and Jalen Cropper have yet to put a foot wrong in camp.

Wide receiver isn't the deepest position on the Cowboys in terms of talent, but as far as competition no other position group is more crowded.

This is why the annual roster slash is the worst part of the NFL offseason. Injuries or simply a lofty body count at a position can befall players who otherwise didn't do anything on the field to warrant being cut. That can be applied to Crooms, who is the first in a long list of Cowboys who have an unjust fate waiting for them on the other side of preseason.

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