Most significant move: Almost immediately the Dallas Cowboys knew Orlando Scandrick's season was over when the veteran cornerback clutched his right knee on the practice field while in Oxnard, California.
Scandrick had surgery last week to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, and the team formally ended his season on Tuesday by placing him on injured reserve.
In the past such an injury might would have left the Cowboys incapacitated at the spot, but they have expressed confidence in Morris Claiborne, their first-round pick from 2012, in taking over for Scandrick in the base defense and Tyler Patmon in the slot in sub packages. The Cowboys also can turn to this year’s first-round pick, Byron Jones, if something were to happen to Claiborne.
Scandrick has promised to come back better than before and will begin his rehab process soon.
More guaranteed money gone: The Cowboys guaranteed wide receiver George Farmer $55,000 as an undrafted free agent and he was cut two weeks ago. On Tuesday they waived Antwan Goodley, whom they gave $7,500 to sign as an undrafted free agent.
The last of the undrafted free agent receivers that received sizeable money is Lucky Whitehead ($10,000 bonus), and he has a decent chance to make the final roster.
Goodley’s chances were hurt early in camp because of a hamstring strain that kept him out of the first preseason game. He was unable to make a dent in the wide receiver depth chart from the spring through the summer.
The Cowboys had hopes that Farmer, Goodley and/or Whitehead would make the team the same way as Miles Austin and Sam Hurd in 2006.
Buying time: The Cowboys put third-round pick Chaz Green on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, which means he will miss the first six games of the regular season. The Cowboys were hoping Green could serve as the swing tackle this season behind Tyron Smith and Doug Free when he was drafted, but he injured his hip in the spring, requiring surgery.
Seventh-round pick Mark Nzeocha, a linebacker, was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list as he continues to come back from a knee injury suffered at Wyoming. He will also miss the first six games of the season.
Cowboys moves: CB Scandrick (injured reserve), OT Green (reserve/PUP), LB Nzeocha (reserve/NFI), DE Ken Boatright (waived/injured), OT R.J. Dill (waived/injured), RB Michael Hill (waived/injured), TE Brandon Barden (waived), LB Jonathan Brown (waived), WR Goodley (waived), WR David Porter (waived), P Tom Hornsey (waived), CB Robert Steeples (waived), LS Corey Kreiter (waived), DT Carlif Taylor (waived), WR Phil Bates (waived).