Tyrus Wheat signs with Cowboys, returning for second stint

When the Cowboys and Lions faced off last season, Wheat recorded two tackles and a pass deflection for Detroit against this former team.

A majority of Wheat’s playing time in the last three seasons has come on special teams. Last year with Detroit, Wheat played 215 special teams snaps and just 66 defensive snaps. In his first run with the Cowboys, he played 243 special teams snaps and 196 defensive snaps.

Under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme, Dallas is looking to add outside linebackers like Wheat. Earlier in the week, the Cowboys traded for another outside linebacker in Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers.

As it stands, Wheat, Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Marist Liufau and James Houston currently make up the OLB/EDGE room for the Cowboys heading into 2026.

For all of the latest news on the Cowboys in free agency, keep up with DallasCowboys.com’s 2026 Free Agency Tracker.