For Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rashaan Evans, the timing could not have been worse.
As the Cowboys were on Tuesday approaching a roster decision because of their desire to add depth to the offensive line, Evans – the former first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and an “off-the-couch” signing by Dallas this year – was arrested in Frisco on a charge of possession of marijuana.
The Cowboys are not saying specifically that the arrest helped clarify their decision. But Evans was released by the team on Wednesday morning.
The Cowboys signed Evans to the practice squad in October, and he appeared in nine games this season, recording nine tackles as a helper to a group that lost Leighton Vander Esch to a season-ending neck injury and is now heavily reliant on youngsters Damone Clark and Markquese Bell.
Even though the team needs depth help at linebacker, Evans played only on special teams last week in the loss at Miami.
On Wednesday, Dallas made the move to activate offensive lineman Matt Waletzko from IR, and to simultaneously release Evans.