FRISCO, Texas – Just days before the start of training camp, Allen Hurns expects to be released by the Cowboys.
Reports surfaced Tuesday morning that Hurns had been cut, and while the team has yet to make an official roster move, Hurns confirmed the news via text message.
The decision brings Hurns' tenure in Dallas to a close after just one season. He signed on last March after a four-year stint in Jacksonville, grabbing 20 balls for 295 yards and two touchdowns in 2018.
Unfortunately, the most memorable part of Hurns' time here was the way his season ended. During last year's playoff win against Seattle, he suffered a horrific leg injury on a third-down catch in the first quarter and had to be carted off the field.
Hurns worked his way back from the injury quickly enough that he took a limited role in OTAs and minicamp, and he was expected to be ready for training camp.
"Will I be able to practice, yeah – but as far as back-to-back days, that would be the only thing right now," he said in June.
As with so many mid-summer roster moves, this decision likely comes down to money. Hurns signed a two-year, $11 million deal last year and he was set to count $6.2 million against the salary cap in 2019.
With Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and Randall Cobb set to fill the starting roles, the Cowboys apparently didn't want to pay so much for a reserve wide receiver. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Hurns preferred to test the open market than settle for a pay cut.
Releasing Hurns also further confirms the youth movement among the Cowboys' wide receivers. Cobb and Tavon Austin are the elder statesmen at 28 and 29, respectively, but this is position group that is mostly 25 or younger heading into 2019.
Hurns figured to be the primary backup at a number of different positions, and his departure should open the door for the likes of Noah Brown, Cedrick Wilson, Lance Lenoir, Jon'Vea Johnson and Jalen Guyton.
