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Former Georgia football playoff hero released by Dallas Cowboys
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- Former Georgia football playoff hero released by Dallas Cowboys
Former Georgia Bulldog cornerback Derion Kendrick was cut by the Dallas Cowboys , according to a team announcement . The Cowboys released Kendrick as part of their moves to get their roster down to 53 players, but are bringing him back on their practice squad.
Kendrick signed with the Dallas Cowboys on March 24, 2026, as a member of their active roster. Kendrick played in all three preseason games, including two starts. He allowed five receptions on six targets and 36 yards for a 91.7 passer rating.
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Kendrick has tangible NFL experience to lean on in the open market. After being selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams , Kendrick played three seasons with the Rams. In his rookie season in 2022, he had 43 tackles and four passes defended in 15 games. In 2023, he had 49 tackles, three tackles for loss, 10 passes defended and one career interception.
However, his career changed when he tore an ACL during training camp ahead of the 2024 season. He missed that season, and the Rams waived him on June 13, 2025. They re-signed him four days later, but released him among their final cuts on Aug. 26, 2025.
The Seattle Seahawks claimed him off waivers a day later, and he played in 10 games, registering seven tackles, one tackle for loss, five passes defended and two interceptions. However, Seattle released him on Nov. 25.
Kendrick reunited with the Rams a day later, and he finished the season with three more tackles.
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He was a two-time national champion in his college football career with Clemson Tigers (2018-20) and Georgia (2021). With the Tigers, he racked up 61 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, 14 passes defended, three interceptions, a pick six and a scoop-and-score. He made second-team All-ACC in 2019 and first-team All-ACC in 2020.
It's insane to look back on because he started as a wide receiver as a freshman. He racked up 15 receptions for 210 yards and no touchdowns in his freshman season, during which Clemson earned its most recent national championship.
What he did at Georgia was even crazier. He racked up 41 tackles, two tackles for loss, three passes defended and four interceptions, including two against Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinals. NFL teams are trying to get that form out of him.
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Former Georgia football playoff hero released by Dallas Cowboys
