NFL reinstates Cowboys pass rusher Randy Gregory

The Dallas Cowboys will get back a potentially explosive part of their defense this season. The NFL has reinstated edge rusher Randy Gregory after missing all of the 2019 season as part of an indefinite suspension. Gregory appeared in 12 games as a rookie, 2 in his second season, sat out 2017, played 14 games in 2018, and sat our 2019 while suspended.

Gregory will work through an acclimation period starting Monday, September 7th, per NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero. He will go through testing and is allowed to participate in conditioning activities, individual workouts, and meetings until the week of October 5th. Starting that week, he will be eligible to practice with the full team. He will be eligible to play in games starting in Week 7.

The Cowboys pass rush has struggled to get much of anything going in recent years. Football Outsiders ranked the unit 19th in adjusted sack rate last season, 27th the year before, and 14th in 2017. Robert Quinn led the team in sacks last season with 11.5, followed by Demarcus Lawrence’s five sacks.

Quinn left the team for Chicago in free agency while the Cowboys signed Everson Griffen and Dontari Poe to beef up their defensive line. Gregory has not played much in recent years, so while he was talented when playing, he is effectively a flyer for this group in 2020.