40 Mike Weber RB

Weber signed with the Cowboys' practice squad Monday, Rob Phillips of the team's official site reports.

Weber didn't survive cut-down day Saturday, but he'll at least be able to stick around in Dallas. The Ohio State product rushed for 2,676 yards and 24 touchdowns over 28 games in college before being selected in the seventh round by the Cowboys in this year's draft.

Weber was waived by the Cowboys on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

This further reinforces the idea Ezekiel Elliott will be available Week 1, as the Cowboys also released Darius Jackson and Jordan Chunn. A sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Weber figures to be a practice-squad candidate should he slip through waivers.

Weber is expected to begin the season on the practice squad, John Owning of The Dallas Morning News reports.

While fellow rookie Tony Pollard has been allowed to shine in the preseason, Weber has been mostly hidden by the Cowboys, staying on the sidelines while other depth RB options like Jordan Chunn and Darius Jackson get snaps. This points to the front office having already decided the seventh-round pick won't make the 53-man roster, but the draft investment in him would indicate the club would like to slip him through waivers onto the practice squad. Assuming he isn't grabbed by another team along the way, Weber would need injuries at the position to have a chance of seeing regular-season action with the Cowboys this year.

A recent MRI revealed no ligament damage in Weber's knee and the running back returned to practice with full participation both Wednesday and Thursday, Nick Eatman of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Weber was held out of the last couple days of rookie minicamp earlier this month with a knee injury that at one point was thought to potentially require surgery. The Ohio State product has since returned to both individual and team drills in the first leg of OTAs this week and appears ready to compete for the No. 2 running back job in Dallas. Weber, a seventh-round pick, will primarily compete with fellow rookie and fourth-round pick Tony Pollard along with veteran Darius Jackson.

Weber (knee) hopes to avoid surgery, but he may eventually need an arthroscopic procedure if his injury doesn't improve with rest, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

The rookie seventh-round pick had an MRI on his sore right knee after leaving the field early during Saturday's practice at rookie minicamp. Weber is hoping to compete with Darius Jackson and fellow rookie Tony Pollard (a fourth-round pick) for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind workhorse Ezekiel Elliot. The Cowboys still have plenty of time to bring in veteran competition before training camp, though most of the recognizable names on the market have serious concerns regarding age and/or injury.

Weber left Saturday's rookie minicamp with a knee injury that will require an MRI, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The seventh-round pick did attend the afternoon portion of rookie practice, but didn't participate. Weber was supposed to be a fairly impactful member of the Cowboys' backfield as the team attempts to lessen Ezekiel Elliott's workload, so any type of injury could be difficult for both player and team.

The Cowboys selected Weber in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft, 218th overall.

Weber (5-foot-10, 211 pounds) was never a star at Ohio State, but he was a reliable and occasionally explosive producer over the last three years, turning 455 carries into 2,676 yards (5.9 YPC) and 24 touchdowns while adding 54 receptions for 297 yards and a touchdown. That pass-catching production is quite underwhelming, but Weber seems comfortable handling blitz pickup and otherwise has a 4.47-second 40 providing legitimate NFL speed. No one is challenging Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, but Weber can contribute snaps if necessary.