FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys front office continued its preseason roster shuffle on Tuesday, announcing two transactions that impact both sides of the ball. The team waived defensive tackle Kelvin Gilliam with an injury designation and signed tight end Mitchell Van Vooren to fill the open roster spot.
Cowboys sign tight end Van Vooren
To replace Gilliam on the 90-man roster, the Cowboys signed tight end Mitchell Van Vooren, a 25-year-old who brings an intriguing athletic profile to Dallas.
Van Vooren, listed at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2025, signing with the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle waived him on June 13, 2025, and he later signed with the Cleveland Browns before being released. Most recently, Vooren spent time with the New England Patriots, who signed him in July 2026 before releasing him on August 18.
Van Vooren’s path to the NFL is unconventional. He began his college career as a track athlete at Marquette, where he set the school record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 51.38 seconds and earned All-America honors.
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He later transferred to St. Norbert for football, where he caught 65 passes for 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns across 22 games. As a senior, he recorded 33 receptions for 510 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning first-team All-NACC honors.
Schottenheimer says Cowboys could add another tight end before Saints finale
Schottenheimer acknowledged that the Cowboys’ thin tight end room could force the team to explore another addition before the preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints.
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With Michael Trigg and DJ Rogers working their way back from injuries, Zack Kuntz was forced into an unusually heavy workload against the Arizona Cardinals.
“It’s tough. And then Schoonmaker used up his plays in the first drive,” Schottenheimer said. “And got to give Zack Kuntz a lot of credit, man. He just started a little slow. He was out there flying around.” Schottenheimer also explained how unusual the situation was for Dallas.
“It was the first time I’ve ever really had to go into a game with one tight end and mixing a little bit of 10 personnel,” he said. The Cowboys coach indicated that Trigg and Rogers could return against New Orleans, but stopped short of guaranteeing it. “We’ll see if they’re ready to roll against the Saints,” Schottenheimer said.
And within a few hours, the Cowboys have hired a new tight end, Van Vooren
Injuries have the Cowboys considering another addition at tight end
Gilliam, an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech, was signed by the Cowboys shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft. He signed a three-year, $3.105 million contract that included $50,000 in guaranteed money.
The 6-foot-2, 296-pound defensive tackle had been competing for a depth role behind Quinnen Williams, Otito Ogbonnia, and Kenny Clark. Gilliam’s stock had been on the rise prior to the injury. He led all Cowboys defensive tackles with three tackles in the preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks and appeared disruptive in the trenches.
The ‘waived/injured’ designation means Gilliam will now revert to injured reserve if he clears waivers, effectively ending his rookie season before it began. It is a tough break for a player who showcased elite athleticism at Virginia Tech’s Pro Day, posting a 9.90 Relative Athletic Score that ranked 24th out of 2,278 defensive tackles since 1987.
In his final collegiate season, Gilliam started all 12 games for the Hokies, recording 34 tackles, two sacks and four quarterback hurries.
However, his momentum came to a halt on August 20, when he exited practice alongside fellow defensive tackle Jay Toia and tight end DJ Rogers. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated at the time that the team would take precautionary measures, though he did not initially believe the injuries were serious.
What this front office transaction means for the Cowboys roster
The move signals the Cowboys’ ongoing need for tight end depth. The team has been thin at the position throughout training camp, with undrafted free agents Michael Trigg and DJ Rogers both dealing with injuries. Van Vooren will step in as a camp body with the potential to compete for a practice squad role if he impresses in the coming days.
For Gilliam, the waiver designation is a disappointing end to what had been a promising summer. The Cowboys now have until Sunday’s 53-man roster deadline to finalize their defensive tackle rotation, and this transaction clears one more name from the crowded competition.
