The moves left the Cowboys with 52 players, meaning another player likely will be claimed off the waiver wire before the team returns to practice Monday. The Cowboys open the regular season Sept. 13 at Tampa Bay.

As expected, undrafted rookie Kevin Ogletree beat out third-year player Isaiah Stanback for the fifth wide receiver spot. Ogletree, who gave up his final season of eligibility at Virginia to enter the draft, was the only rookie free agent to make the team.

Ogletree led the Cowboys' receivers in the preseason with seven receptions for 87 yards and a team-high two touchdowns. Stanback, who was a fourth-round draft pick in 2007 after playing quarterback at Washington, has struggled with injuries throughout his pro career.

Michael Irvin reality TV show winner Jesse Holley, another receiver, was also cut even though he returned a punt 82 yards for the winning touchdown in the Cowboys' 35-31 victory over Minnesota on Friday night.

Only half of Dallas' 12 draft picks made the 53-man roster. Safety/cornerback DeAngelo Smith (fifth round) and fellow Cincinnati alum Mike Mickens, a seventh-round cornerback, joined wide receiver Manuel Johnson, a seventh-round pick from Oklahoma, on the cut list.

Three draft picks - third-round linebacker Jason Williams (ankle), fifth-round safety Mike Hamlin (wrist) and fourth-round quarterback Stephen McGee (knee) from Texas A&M - enter the season injured.

The only healthy draft picks on the roster are outside linebacker Victor Butler, tight end John Phillips and kicker David Buehler.

Third-round offensive lineman Robert Brewster is on the physically unable to perform list with a torn pectoral muscle. He's likely out for the season, but the Cowboys hope he will be able to practice at some point. The NFL prohibits players on IR from practicing with their team.

Stanback wasn't the only member of the 2007 draft class to lose his job. Safety/cornerback Courtney Brown, a seventh-round pick three years ago, got let go after a horrible training camp and preseason.

Other players cut were Travis Bright, Rudy Carpenter, Scott Chandler, Julius Crosslin, Marcus Dixon, Tearrius George, Ryan Gibbons, Jeremy Haynes, Mike Jefferson, Keon Lattimore, Willie Reid, Derreck Robinson, Asaph Schwapp, Jonas Seawright, Matt Stewart and DeAngelo Willingham.

Carpenter, an undrafted rookie quarterback from Arizona State, and a few of the other players who were released could return as practice-squad members if they clear waivers.