Current and former members of the Cowboys' secondary reflect on their futures ahead of the new season.
The Dallas Cowboys cut their roster down to 53 players, and many of the transactions came as shocks to fans.
Among them was Dallas releasing backup quarterback Joe Milton and running back Jaydon Blue. Milton may still be brought back to the practice squad to compete with new second-stringer Sam Howell, but Blue has been claimed off waives by the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cowboys' counter was adding former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado to join the room with Javonte Williams and Malik Davis.
Defensively, the staff had more difficulty cutting returning players due to Dallas' overhaul of the unit this offseason for new coordinator Christian Parker. One of the rooms that was slashed the hardest was the secondary.
Cornerbacks Trikweze Bridges, Josh Butler, Reddy Stewad (who has been brought back to the practice squad) and Derioin Kendrick were cut, in addition to safeties Zion Childress and Julius Wood.
Caelen Carson and Ameer Speed occupy the final two spots at corner behind expected starters DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant and Shavon Revel Jr.
Behind them, the veteran Markquese Bell and youngster Alijah Clark earn spots at safety.
Special teams has appeared to be the final straw in what qualified some defensive backs over others. Dallas has struggled in that phase of the game, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer has been intentional about that improvement this offseason.
While the roster is still undergoing changes and is not set in stone for the Week 1 trip to face the New York Giants, this may also explain Speed's inclusion on the team.
For Carson, he earns a spot despite a rough preseason stretch that saw him commit multiple penalties. He understands the warning that might have been put on his career.
"I’m definitely a work in progress. The sky is the limit for me," he said to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at cut-down day. "I haven’t reached my ceiling at all. Aside from what everybody thinks and what everybody says, I’m the one practicing every day. The coaches see me in practice every day. I think it’s all helping me develop. These are great coaches, a great system. I’ve learned so much since they came in. It’s helped me improve. I’ll be real, I think I’m a ticking time bomb away. That’s real."
Third-year pro Butler offered a similar reaction on social media, though he was defending his play as a potential reason why the Cowboys should have kept him.
"Ayee at the end of the day! My entire time with the Cowboys I’ve never given up a single touchdown preseason or regular season or a pass over 20yards," Butler wrote before signaling his appreciation for his career to this point.
"Did the impossible rekindling my football career after 4 years out of college. Made history! & so much more. I’m super grateful for my hometown team love yall forever."
Wood, who many were impressed by at training camp and thought could be a young piece that sticks around, said on social media, "In the end I'll Win."
Clark's reaction goes back to his ability on special teams.
"That’s a character thing for me. That’s who I am," he said. "Special teams is all about nit, grit and the will to do. It’s will over skill on special teams, and I don’t think nobody out-wills me. I’ll do whatever it takes to get a chance."
