The Dallas Cowboys granted Ezekiel Elliott his release on Tuesday after the running back requested it in an attempt to land with a playoff-bound team ahead of Week 18. They’ve immediately filled his former roster spot on January 1st to kick off 2025.

That’s because the Cowboys have signed DE Earnest Brown IV, Nick Harris from Forth Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Brown IV, who was a fifth-round draft pick for the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, technically making him a Super Bowl champion that year even though he didn’t play that year and spent the season.

Most recently, Brown IV spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played three weeks and logged 21 defensive snaps before becoming a healthy scratch the rest of the year, ultimately being waived last week.

The Cowboys are mathematically eliminated and racing toward the end of the season. It’s unclear if Brown IV will play at all in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders but if he does it’d likely be very limited playing time for him.

Brown IV joins Micah Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, Chauncey Golston, and Carl Lawson, among others at defensive end and he’ll have to fight to get on the field. He has little time to do as Dallas gets ready for its first practice of the week on Wednesday.

The Cowboys also signed G Jack Anderson and CB Luq Barcoo to the practice squad.