ARLINGTON, Texas – It was always going to be a long shot that Christine Michael would be ready to play one week after changing teams, and the Cowboys confirmed that Sunday.
Michael, who was acquired last week in a trade with Seattle, headlined the Cowboys' list of seven inactive players ahead of the season opener against the New York Giants. The news means he won't have a chance to contribute to the Cowboys' running back corps for at least another week.
Joining Michael on the inactives list were tight end Geoff Swaim, guard La'el Collins, offensive tackle Jordan Mills, defensive tackles Davon Coleman and Ken Bishop, and defensive end Ryan Russell.
None of the names should come as big surprises, given that they're mostly depth players. The Cowboys are currently carrying 10 defensive linemen on the 53-man roster, so the decision to sit three young players in Coleman, Bishop and Russell makes sense.
Similarly, Swaim made the final roster as the fourth tight end, which makes him expendable on a 46-man game day roster.
New offensive tackle Mills had even less time to adapt than Michael, which makes his exclusion from the proceedings understandable. Mills was claimed off waivers on Monday, after he was released by the Chicago Bears. With him sitting out, Dallas will predictably turn to Darrion Weems to fill the role of swing tackle against the Giants.
Perhaps the most notable name of the Cowboys' seven inactives is Collins, who many thought would be the team's starting left guard as a rookie. The LSU product signed with the Cowboys in the spring after unprecedented circumstances dropped his first-round pick status out of the NFL draft altogether.
Incumbent guard Ronald Leary dominated that position battle, however, leaving Collins as valuable depth on the Cowboys' offensive interior. With Collins inactive, the Cowboys have Mackenzy Bernadeau as insurance at both guard and center.
