FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Aaron Wilson reported Sunday, citing a league source.
Rosters across the NFL have to be at 53 players by 5 p.m. CT Sunday. Waiver claims process at noon CT Monday. Valdes-Scantling has eight accrued seasons, so he does not pass through waivers and becomes a free agent immediately.
Dallas signed Valdes-Scantling to a one-year contract on April 27, along with wide receiver Tyler Johnson and linebacker Curtis Robinson. Valdes-Scantling wore No. 11 through training camp in Oxnard, Calif., and the preseason.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s Preseason With the Dallas Cowboys
Valdes-Scantling was a healthy scratch for the preseason opener at Seattle on Aug. 15. He caught 3 passes for 45 yards over the two games that followed.
He missed a practice in mid-August with shoulder soreness. ESPN’s Todd Archer tied the injury to a fall Valdes-Scantling took on an attempted catch the day before.
On Friday at AT&T Stadium, Valdes-Scantling caught 2 passes for 31 yards in a 27-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Both came from Joe Milton III in the second quarter. The first was a 20-yard gain to the Dallas 45 on second-and-10, and the second picked up 11 yards on second-and-18, leading to a 58-yard field goal before halftime. Milton missed him earlier in the first quarter. Dallas finished the preseason 2-1.
Jordan Hudson had 4 catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in that game, including a 52-yard reception and a 26-yard score from Sam Howell. Camden Brown added a 27-yard catch. Behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the receiver group also carried Jonathan Mingo, Brown, and Hudson.
Dallas released wide receiver Denzel Mims on Saturday. The Cowboys also traded for Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones that day.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s NFL Career Before the Release
The Green Bay Packers picked Valdes-Scantling from South Florida in 2018, fifth round, 174th overall. He started 10 games as a rookie, with 38 receptions, 581 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Over four seasons, he had 123 catches for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, helping them win Super Bowl LVII and LVIII. In two seasons, he recorded 63 catches for 1,002 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Buffalo released him in October 2024 following six games and 2 catches. He then signed with New Orleans, where he started eight games that season, recording 17 receptions for 385 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Seattle signed him to a one-year contract in March 2025, then released him at final cuts that August. San Francisco signed him in August, placed him on injured reserve in October, and released him the next day. Pittsburgh signed him later that month and moved him to the active roster in December. He played in 10 games, catching 14 passes for 120 yards and 1 touchdown.
Valdes-Scantling has played 116 regular-season games with 69 starts over eight seasons. He has 219 receptions for 3,686 yards and 21 touchdowns. His 16.8 yards per reception is the highest mark among active players.
Dallas opens at the New York Giants on Sept. 13. Kickoff is at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
