Dallas Cowboys Part Ways With Ex-Buccaneers Starter

On Monday, that meant offensive lineman and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter Nick Leverett was waived.

“Cowboys waived Nick Leverett,” NFL reporter Aaron Wilson wrote on his official X account. 

Leverett made the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and played four seasons for Tampa Bay, including a career-high 10 starts in 2022.

Leverett, 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, is a 7-year NFL veteran who joined the Cowboys when NFL All-Pro guard Tyler Smith went on injured reserve on the eve of the regular season. Leverett had played in all 5 games this season for the Cowboys, who are off to a 2-3 start.

Leverett has also played for the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals. He played 1 regular-season game for the Cowboys in 2025.

“Cowboys officially placed Pro Bowl G Tyler Smith on injured reserve, sidelining him a minimum of four games,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on September 9. “Dallas also signed G Nick Leverett to their active roster from their practice squad and signed former Lions 2015 first-round pick Laken Tomlinson to their practice squad.”

“Cowboys have officially put Pro Bowl G Tyler Smith on injured reserve,” Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. wrote on his official X account on September 9. “He will miss 4-6 weeks. G Nick Leverett was signed to the active roster from the practice squad. Former Lions 2015 first-round pick Laken Tomlinson was to the practice squad.”

The Cowboys have been a high-octane offense through the 1st month of the regular season — and done so without arguably their most dominant offensive player in Smith.

“The Cowboys are activating All-Pro G Tyler Smith from Injured Reserve to play tonight against the Bucs,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Thursday morning. “A big lift. One of the NFL’s best, Smith had thumb surgery right before the season with hopes of returning as soon as possible. After a full practice Wednesday, he’s back.”

Smith was initially projected to be out 4-6 weeks when news broke of his surgery on September 6.

Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, and the entire NFC East Division. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame