FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are releasing offensive tackle Marcellus Johnson, Aaron Wilson reported Sunday, citing a league source.
Rosters have to be at 53 by 5 p.m. CT Sunday. Waivers process at noon CT Monday, practice squads at 5 p.m. Johnson has never played a regular-season game, so he goes to waivers. Dallas can bring him back if he clears.
The room got crowded a day earlier. Dallas traded for Broderick Jones on Saturday, pushing the tackle group to six. Jones had spinal fusion surgery in March and did not practice until July 30. He played 142 snaps across Pittsburgh’s three preseason games. He is in the last year of a rookie deal worth $16,626,352, with a $1.517 million base and a $1.5 million roster bonus this season.
Johnson wore No. 79 at 6-4, 307. He has been in Dallas since Nov. 12, when the Cowboys signed him to the practice squad to replace Geron Christian, a 2018 third-round pick of Washington who left that week for Denver’s active roster. Johnson finished the season on the practice squad. On Jan. 6 he got a reserve/future deal, one of nine that day, alongside Israel Abanikanda, Parris Campbell, Zion Childress, Traeshon Holden, Isaiah Land, Nick Leverett, Adedayo Odeleye, and Julius Wood. Spotrac lists it at two years, $1.935 million, with an $885,000 cap hit this season. He has earned $382,500 in the league, per Over The Cap.
Marcellus Johnson’s Path To Dallas
The New York Giants signed Johnson after the 2024 draft, undrafted out of Missouri. Big Blue View put the deal at three years, $2.85 million, with $170,000 guaranteed, the biggest guarantee New York gave an undrafted player that spring.
He never got off the practice squad. Two stints with the Giants as a rookie, a Minnesota Vikings stop in between, then back to Minnesota in the offseason and cut in August. The Indianapolis Colts took him and let him go Oct. 14. He sat almost a month before Dallas called.
Marcellus Johnson At Eastern Michigan And Missouri
Johnson spent five years at Eastern Michigan, 2018 to 2022, and started all but one game over the last three. He started all 13 at left tackle as a senior. Academic All-MAC three times.
He transferred to Missouri as a graduate student and played 10 games in 2023, moving between right tackle and right guard through an ankle injury.
At the Missouri pro day, Johnson ran 5.15 in the 40, jumped 31.5 inches, and put up 30 on the bench.
He grew up in Normal, Illinois, and played at Normal Community, a two-star recruit with offers from BYU and Kentucky. His father played at Illinois State and then professionally on the defensive line. His brother Eric II played at Missouri State.
Dallas cut wide receiver Denzel Mims on Saturday and is waiving running back Phil Mafah. Week 1 is Sept. 13 at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
