The Dallas Cowboys earned a much-needed win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11, keeping their dim playoff hopes alive for at least one more week. If they really want to give themselves a shot at finding their way into the postseason, taking down the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12 would certainly help their cause. For much of the season, the Cowboys have been piecing things together on the defensive side of the ball, particularly when it comes to their secondary. One guy who has been helping out on the backside of the defense was former first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam, but his time with the team came to an abrupt end on Saturday afternoon. Cowboys Release Kaiir Elam Before Week 12 Meeting with Eagles Entering the season, the Cowboys were hoping to be able to rely on their top duo of Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland at cornerback, but injuries have once again limited their time together on the field. Diggs is currently on injured reserve with a concussion, while Bland missed a pair of games earlier in the season due to a foot injury. With Diggs and Bland in and out of the lineup, Elam took on a bigger role in the secondary. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Elam was traded to Dallas from the Buffalo Bills over the offseason after he struggled mightily early in his career. Unfortunately, those struggles continued with the Cowboys. Elam suited up for all 10 of Dallas’ games this season, racking up 29 tackles and a pass deflection. His coverage numbers were still awful, though, as he allowed a passer rating of 105. 0 when he was the closest defender in coverage. With Bland healthy and Caelen Carson and Reddy Steward earning more snaps, the front office decided to cut Elam before their upcoming matchup in order to open up a roster spot for running back Malik Davis. “The Cowboys waived CB Kaiir Elam and signed RB Malik Davis from the practice squad,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared in a post on X. Cowboys Looking to Get Revenge vs. Eagles After Week 1 Loss While Elam continued to earn snaps for the Cowboys, it was more due to a lack of available options. Since entering the NFL, the young cornerback has been unable to hold up in coverage, which is why he’s looking for a new home once again after getting traded just a couple of months ago. Another team could look to take a flier on Elam, but his tape simply is not good, and it’s fair to wonder what the future holds for him. In the meantime, Dallas will continue putting the final touches on its preparations for its upcoming matchup with Philadelphia. After suffering a hard-fought 24-20 loss to the Eagles back in Week 1, the Cowboys will be eager to get some revenge, and a win here may be the only shot they have at salvaging their season. Kickoff for this highly anticipated divisional matchup is scheduled for 4: 25 p. m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
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