Former South Florida wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling's long-shot attempt to make the Dallas Cowboys roster ended Sunday when he was released as NFL teams reached the deadline to reduce rosters to 53 players.
Valdes-Scantling played for the Bulls from 2016-17 before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He won two Super Bowl rings with Kansas City after playing four seasons with the Packers. He also played for Buffalo, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh before signing a few months ago with the Cowboys.
Despite his release, does this mean the end of the 31-year old's NFL career member.
Maybe not.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling released by Cowboys, source confirms. 'MVS' will be a free agent entering Year 9.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 30, 2026
Although he was reportedly considering retiring before offering the Cowboys him a chance, Valdes-Scantling could still have something to offer an NFL team needing depth or emergency help at wide receiver. He is a free agent now, so any team needing his help can call.
In the 2023 Super Bowl, he was on the team when Kansas City beat Philadelphia 38-35. A year later, he caught a 16-yard touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII as Kansas City beat San Francisco 25-22 in overtime.
This year in Dallas, he was brought in as insurance in case a contract impasse between the team and stellar wide receiver George Pickens turned into a rift that couldn't be healed. Pickens and the team eventually settled, and that, along with other young talent on the roster, meant that Valdes-Scantling had no chance.
Does that mean the end of his career?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
He could be an option for a team needing depth or emergency help at the wide position. Those moves are often made in the hours after the mandatory roster reductions.
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