IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys are becoming the Linebacker U of the NFL.
The Cowboys signed veteran Kyle Knox on Tuesday, upping the linebacker total to 12 on the 90-man roster. Considering the Cowboys use a 4-3, it seems a tad bit of overkill to have 12 linebackers when the team will keep six or seven when the final roster comes due in September.
But before the Cowboys can cut down the number of linebackers, they actually need to practice.
Though Knox is the 12th linebacker on the roster, only eight will be taking part in full practices as the Cowboys work through their organized team activities and June 16-18 minicamp.
Sean Lee has been limited in his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that kept him out all of last season. Rolando McClain is rehabilitating from right knee surgery performed last month and is not expected to do much until training camp begins. Anthony Hitchens did not practice last week because of a lingering ankle problem and rookie Mark Nzoecha is also rehabbing a torn ACL suffered last year at Wyoming.
Only five of the eight full-practicing linebackers have NFL experience, so Knox at the very least helps them get through practice or at the very most earns a roster spot in September.
An undrafted free agent in 2012, Knox spent time on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad. In 2013 he played in four games with the Jacksonville Jaguars before ending the season with the New Orleans Saints. He played in 12 games for the Saints last season, mostly in a special teams’ role.
To make room for Knox, safety Keelan Johnson was waived.
