FRISCO, Texas -- A familiar face is returning to the Cowboys, as OLB Tyrus Wheat signed with Dallas on Friday for his second with the team.
Wheat, 26, returns to Dallas after signing with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2023. In two seasons with the Cowboys, Wheat played in 20 games and recorded 17 tackles and half a sack.
Last season for the Lions, Wheat played in 15 games, posting career highs in tackles (15) and sacks (1.5) as well as adding a forced fumble and pass breakup.
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.
