IRVING, Texas - The Cowboys made a last-minute roster move on Saturday in preparation for Sunday's game with the Browns.
The club has activated Kevin Kowalski off of PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) and placed the second-year offensive lineman on the 53-man roster. Kowalski is expected to play against Cleveland as a backup to both guard and center.
To make room on the roster, the Cowboys placed rookie safety Matt Johnson on injured reserve, but he is eligible to return after eight weeks, assuming the season is still going. Johnson has had three different hamstring injuries since the start of training camp and only played in one preseason game and no regular season games this year.
The Cowboys had high expectations for versatile lineman Kowalski this season after a promising rookie year that basically came out of nowhere.
But a nagging ankle injury that included a major case of tendinitis that wiped out his entire offseason, training camp and preseason, has healed to the point Kowalski could practice last week. PUP rules state the Cowboys had three weeks to activate him to the 53-man roster starting on Nov. 5. The club used two weeks but were obviously comfortable enough with Kowalski's status to get him ready for Sunday.
Last year, Kowalski, who made the team as an undrafted rookie from Toledo, was a backup interior lineman who had to fill in at both center and guard at various times.
