OXNARD, Calif. — After successful workouts with the team, the Dallas Cowboys signed linebacker Nick Vigil, defensive tackle Albert Huggins and linebacker Darius Harris on Tuesday, as defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer adds three new bodies to the defensive side of the ball.
To make room for the new faces, the Cowboys waived rookie undrafted linebacker/defensive end Byron Vaughns, moved wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to the reserve/did not report list as he continues his contractual-related holdout from training camp, and moved Sam Williams to the injured reserve after he suffered a season-ending torn ACL earlier in training camp.
Vigil, a third-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2016 NFL Draft, reunites with Zimmer after having started 12 games and accounting for 85 tackles for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. He also reunites with Cowboys defensive run game coordinator Paul Guenther who was Vigil's defensive coordinator in Cincinnati for two seasons. The last two seasons have seen Vigil battle some injuries that kept him on the injured reserve in 2022 and resorted him to the practice squad for the Vikings in 2023.
Huggins, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle who has played for five different teams in five seasons, started in five games for the Atlanta Falcons last season and accounted for 22 tackles in the most action he's participated in throughout his NFL career. Huggins spent one month on the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad in 2020 when Mike Zimmer was still the head coach. With the Cowboys needing help at defensive tackle, Huggins could factor in at either spot in the interior given his experience although his physical skillset could be better suited for a backup role to Osa Odighizuwa.
Harris, who is a two-time Super Bowl champion including last year's title with the Kansas City Chiefs, is playing for a new team for the first time in his NFL career. After being acquired as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State in 2019 by the Chiefs, Harris spent four seasons in Kansas City – participating in 33 games and accounting for 58 tackles. His best season came in 2022 when he played in all 17 games and racked up 43 tackles.
The added depth at linebacker gives Mike Zimmer two more bodies to what is now a crowded room. Despite ending the season with just one healthy linebacker on the active roster in 2023, the linebacker corps now has fresh faces in Harris, Vigil, Eric Kendricks, Marist Liufau, DeMarvion Overshown (return from injury), Jason Johnson, Willie Harvey Jr., Damien Wilson and Brock Mogensen.
