In a stunning turn of events, the Dallas Cowboys have delivered a crushing blow to Canadian offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley, waiving the 30-year-old with an injury designation after a devastating high ankle sprain sidelined him during Thursday’s practice. The move, announced just days before the Cowboys’ preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams on August 9, 2025, leaves Shepley’s NFL aspirations hanging by a thread.
The clock is now ticking for the Windsor, Ontario native. Over the next 24 hours, any NFL team can claim Shepley off waivers. If unclaimed, he will either revert to Dallas’ injured reserve—where teams are limited to activating just eight players per season—or face release with an injury settlement, potentially marking the end of his time with the Cowboys.
Shepley, a journeyman who has fought tooth and nail to carve out a place in the NFL, was in his second stint with Dallas. After signing a two-year contract extension in March, he had been a mainstay on the practice squad since October 2023, earning elevations to the active roster for three games in 2024. His gritty determination and versatility made him a valuable depth piece, but this latest setback could derail his hard-earned momentum.
A former first-round pick by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2018 CFL Draft, Shepley’s football journey has been anything but conventional. Starting as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets in 2018, he bounced between the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Indianapolis Colts before finding a home in Dallas. Over six seasons, he has appeared in 16 NFL games, pocketing over $1.8 million while proving his worth as a reliable offensive lineman.
Shepley’s standout 2019 season with the Roughriders, where he started 14 games at right guard and earned the team’s Most Outstanding Rookie award, showcased his potential as a dominant force. A product of the University of British Columbia, his relentless work ethic and physicality have kept him in the NFL conversation, but this injury could force him to confront an uncertain future.