Dallas Cowboys Open Practice Window For Jonathan Bullard, Move Veteran Defensive Tackle To IR-Designated For Return Before Cardinals Game
FRISCO, Texas — Jonathan Bullard’s 21-day practice window opened Thursday when the Dallas Cowboys moved the veteran defensive tackle to reserve/injured-designated for return. If Dallas does not activate him to the 53-man roster before that window closes, he stays on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
The team posted the move on X on Thursday afternoon. Bullard went on injured reserve Sept. 30, three days after he hurt his calf in a 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro. Safety Jalen Thompson, who injured his hamstring in the same game, went on the list with him.
Bullard and Thompson both left the game in Rio and did not come back. Dallas had gone into that night already without linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and safeties Malik Hooker and P.J. Locke.
“We got beat to hell. I don’t have all the injury reports… we got beat up pretty good,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said after the game. “Next man up was real tonight.”
Two days later, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that the calf injury would keep Bullard out three to five weeks. Since then, Dallas has played at Houston, at home against Tampa Bay, at Green Bay, and at Philadelphia, which covers the four-game minimum and lets the Cowboys activate Bullard for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium.
Jonathan Bullard’s Season Before The Calf Injury
An injury kept Bullard out of most of training camp. He returned to practice Sept. 7, six days before the Sunday night opener at the New York Giants. Schottenheimer said Bullard “did good” that day and had been “kicking ass in rehab.” A groin issue kept him on the injury report that week, though he practiced in full.
“I think so, based on today,” Schottenheimer said. “We’ll see if he has any pain or anything tomorrow, but when I talked to him at the end of practice, he felt really, really good.”
Bullard played in each of the first three games and had 3 tackles and a half-sack before the injury in Rio. Dallas signed him to a one-year deal on March 28 for his 11th NFL season, and he turned 33 on Oct. 22.
Cowboys Weigh Return Designations Before Arizona Cardinals Visit
Dallas spent the first two of its eight return designations at the Aug. 30 roster cutdown, on outside linebacker Marist Liufau and rookie cornerback Devin Moore. By Oct. 13, the team site counted six after All-Pro guard Tyler Smith, Thompson, Locke, and Bullard went on the list.
Liufau and Locke are already practicing again after Dallas opened their windows Oct. 22 and Oct. 23, and both were listed as full participants for Wednesday’s walkthrough. Quinnen Williams was listed as limited for that walkthrough with a hamstring injury. Dallas waived running back Emari Demercado from the active roster Tuesday.
Monday’s 38-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles moved Dallas to 3-4. Arizona is 2-5. Kickoff Sunday is set for noon CT on FOX.
