According to Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed , the Dallas Cowboys will add depth to their running back position by signing former Atlanta Falcons running back. Ollison will join Malik Davis on the practice squad, where he was also able re-sign following waivers. On August 31, 2022, the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken reported that Ollison and the Cowboys are still working out details for a deal.
“Cowboys are in discussions to sign former Falcons RB Qadree Ollison to practice squad, person familiar with situation said,” Gehlken tweeted. “Not official, but team is ‘working on it.’ Ollison, a 2019 fifth-round pick from Pittsburgh, had 21 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown last season.”
Ollison was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round. 152 pick. Ollison ran 44 times for 158 yards, five touchdowns and three more during his three seasons at Atlanta.
Dallas was able get their pick of players that they had previously released to complete their 53-man roster. The Cowboys also signed Davis and the following players to their practice squad: guard Isaac Alacron; tackle Aviante Collins; safety Tyler Coyle; receiver Dontario Drummond; quarterback Will Grier; linebacker Malik Jefferson; center Alec Lindstrom; kicker Brett Maher.
Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard and Tony Pollard are already a formidable duo when it comes to running back for the Cowboys. Rico Dowdle was the RB3 player, but Davis or Ollison could be used throughout the season.
The Cowboys are uncertain about their future, given Elliott’s huge $90m contract and Pollard’s free agency in 2023. The Cowboys didn’t address this issue in the draft, but they face difficult decisions about Elliott and Pollard.
Although the Cowboys have five years left on their contract for the star running back, they can still release him this offseason and take an $11.8 million cap hit. The Athletic’s Bob Sturm believes that this will be Elliott’s last season in a Cowboys uniform.
“We talked a year ago about the pivotal year in 2021 for Ezekiel Elliott while stating that there was no way the Cowboys can get rid of him before the 2022 season,” Sturm wrote on August 18. “Both were true. His 2021 was nearly identical in many ways to his 2020. He just lacks the explosion he possessed a long time back. His rushing yards per game have fallen every year of his career. His yards per game receiving have fallen every year since 2018.
“He is still on the poster of the marketing materials, but I have a very difficult time seeing Zeke back in 2023 unless something happens that never happens in the NFL — a running back finds explosion again after it being gone for a few years. His cap number in 2023 is not guaranteed and will be about $17 million and while it is always possible the team tries a modified deal as they did with DeMarcus Lawrence, I do not see it. I think this is his last year as a Cowboy.”