Dallas Cowboys: Final 53-man Roster

After months of speculation, the Cowboys have now finalized their 53-man roster -- for now at least -- and there haven't been a ton of surprises.

By Nick Eatman

Sep 1, 2012 at 2:14 pm ET • 3 min read

Jason Garrett erred on the side of veterans when making final roster selections(US Presswire)

After months of speculation, the Cowboys have now finalized their 53-man roster -- for now at least -- and there haven’t been a ton of surprises.

In making their final cuts on Friday, the Cowboys decided to keep more veteran players than expected, including veteran backups such as Marcus Spears and Derrick Dockery. That likely proves owner Jerry Jones’ point that the window to win is closing.

The Cowboys kept five of seven draft picks, with one going to IR and the other retained on the practice squad. Former SMU wide receiver Cole Beasley, who left the Cowboys’ team for two days in training camp because his heart wasn’t in football, not only returned but is on the 53-man roster as the only undrafted rookie to make the team.

QB (2) –- Tony Romo (10^th year, Eastern Illinois), Kyle Orton (8^th year, Purdue)

RB (4) –- DeMarco Murray (2^nd year, Oklahoma), Felix Jones (5^th year, Arkansas), Phillip Tanner (2^nd year, Middle Tennessee State), FB Lawrence Vickers (7^th year, Colorado)

WR (6) –- Miles Austin (7^th year, Monmouth), Dez Bryant (3^rd year, Oklahoma State), Kevin Ogletree (4^th year, Virginia), Dwayne Harris (2^nd year, East Carolina), Andre Holmes (1^st year, Hillsdale), Cole Beasley (rookie, undrafted, SMU)

TE (4) –- Jason Witten (10^th year, Tennessee), John Phillips (4^th year, Virginia), James Hanna (rookie, sixth-round, Oklahoma), Colin Cochart (2^nd year, claimed off waivers from Cincinnati, South Dakota State)

OL (9) –- Tyron Smith (2^nd year, USC), Doug Free (6^th year, Northern Illinois), Phil Costa (3^rd year, Maryland), Mackenzy Bernadeau (5^th year, Bentley), Nate Livings (5^th year, LSU), Derrick Dockery (10^th year, Texas), Jermey Parnell (3^rd year, Ole Miss), Ryan Cook (7^th year, New Mexico), David Arkin (2^nd year, Missouri State)

DL (7) –- Jay Ratliff (8^th year, Auburn), Jason Hatcher (7^th year, Grambling State), Kenyon Coleman (11^th year, UCLA), Marcus Spears (8^th year, LSU), Sean Lissemore (3^rd year, William & Mary), Josh Brent (3^rd year, Illinois), Tyrone Crawford (rookie, third-round, Boise State)

LB (8) – -DeMarcus Ware (8^th year, Troy), Anthony Spencer (6^th year, Purdue), Sean Lee (3^rd year, Purdue), Bruce Carter (2^nd year, North Carolina), Victor Butler (4^th year, Oregon State), Dan Connor (5^th year, Penn State), Alex Albright (2^nd year, Boston College), Kyle Wilber (rookie, fourth-round, Wake Forest)

DB (10) –- Brandon Carr (5^th year, Grand Valley State), Morris Claiborne (rookie, first-round, LSU), Mike Jenkins (5^th year, South Florida), Gerald Sensabaugh (8^th year, North Carolina), Barry Church (3^rd year, Toledo), Orlando Scandrick (5^th year, Boise State), Danny McCray (3^rd year, LSU), Mario Butler (1^st year, Georgia Tech), Mana Silva (1^st year, Hawaii), Matt Johnson (rookie, fourth-round, Eastern Washington)

Specialists (3) –- Dan Bailey (2^nd year, Oklahoma State), Chris Jones (1^st year, Carson Newman), L.P. Ladouceur (8^th year, California)

PUP: Kevin Kowalski (ankle)

IR: Caleb McSurdy (Achilles), Donavon Kemp (ACL)

Practice Squad: RB Lance Dunbar (rookie, undrafted North Texas), RB Jamize Olawale (rookie, undrafted North Texas), LB Orie Lemon (1^st year, Oklahoma State), DE Ben Bass (rookie, undrafted, Texas A&M), WR Danny Coale (rookie, fifth-round, Virginia Tech), DT Robert Calloway (1^st year, Saginaw Valley State), WR Tim Benford (rookie, undrafted, Tennessee State), G Ron Leary (undrafted, rookie, Memphis)

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