The Dallas Cowboys had some tough choices to make on Tuesday as NFL teams had to reduce their roster to 53 players by the afternoon.
Head coach Mike McCarthy repeatedly mentioned during his news conference that he hopes some of the players that were released can later be added to the team's 16-man practice squad.
"The goal is always to keep 69 to 70 of these guys," said McCarthy. "It's a chess match and these are conversations that you don't look forward to having."
McCarthy said he has been a part of drafting and developing pro talent since 2006, but cut day does not get any easier.
"When you look a young man in the eye, and you know he's done everything you asked him to do, and he definitely has earned an opportunity to be on the 53, and you don't have enough spots based off how you think this whole thing is going to evolve," said McCarthy.
Some of the more surprising cuts included linebacker Jabril Cox, TE Sean McKeon and DL Quinton Bohanna.
QB Will Grier, the star of the preseason finale, was also cut.
OG T.J. Bass and RB/FB Hunter Luepke made the team as undrafted rookies.
OT Josh Ball, WR David Durden, LB DeMarvion Overshown and TE John Stephens Jr. were added to the reserve/injured list.
The Cowboys open the regular season on Sept. 10 against the New York Giants.
Dallas Cowboys 53-Man Roster:
Bryan Anger P
Dorance Armstrong DE
Brandon Aubrey K
T.J. Bass OG
Markquese Bell S
Tyler Biadasz C
DaRon Bland CB
Jalen Brooks WR
Damone Clark LB
Brandin Cooks WR
Trevon Diggs CB
Rico Dowdle RB
Viliami Fehoko Jr. DE
Jake Ferguson TE
Dante Fowler Jr. DE
Neville Gallimore DT
Michael Gallup WR
Stephon Gilmore CB
Chauncey Golston DE
Johnathan Hankins DT
Devin Harper LB
Peyton Hendershot TE
Malik Hooker S
Noah Igbinoghene CB
Jayron Kearse S
CeeDee Lamb WR
Trey Lance QB
DeMarcus Lawrence DE
Jourdan Lewis CB
Hunter Luepke RB/FB
Zack Martin OG
Israel Mukuamu S
Osa Odighizuwa DT
Micah Parsons LB
Tony Pollard RB
Dak Prescott QB
Asim Richards OL
Cooper Rush QB
Luke Schoonmaker TE
Eric Scott Jr. CB
Mazi Smith DT
Tyler Smith OL
Tyron Smith OT
Terence Steele OT
Juanyeh Thomas S
Jalen Tolbert WR
KaVontae Turpin WR
Leighton Vander Esch LB
Deuce Vaughn RB
Matt Waletzko OT
Sam Williams DE
Donovan Wilson S
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