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Former Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn has been released by the Broncos

The Dallas Cowboys have been working hard to revamp their roster this offseason so that, when they return to action in 2026, they can find their way back to the postseason. To this point, a lot of good work has been done, but there are still some key items on the to-do list that need to be crossed off.

While the Cowboys are primarily focused on their own team, they are obviously keeping tabs on the moves being made by the other 31 teams in the league. With that being said, Dallas likely took note of an eye-opening move that got made involving one of their former running backs, Deuce Vaughn, and the Denver Broncos.

Deuce Vaughn Gets Released by the Broncos

Vaughn was selected by the Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he quickly became a fan favorite. Standing at just 5’6, Vaughn is one of the shortest players to ever suit up in the NFL, but that didn’t stop him from working his tail off in an effort to carve out a role for himself with Dallas.

Despite his best efforts, though, Vaughn struggled to consistently earn snaps with the Cowboys. He suited up in just 14 total games over his first two seasons with the team, racking up 110 yards on 40 carries and 58 yards on 10 receptions. Ahead of the 2025 campaign, Vaughn was released by Dallas as part of its final roster cuts, with the Broncos scooping him up and stashing him on their practice squad.

Vaughn signed a reserve/future contract with Denver earlier this offseason, but with the team having so much depth at the running back position, it seemed unlikely that he would have much of a shot to crack the team’s Week 1 roster. Sure enough, the Broncos decided to waive Vaughn on Tuesday afternoon to make room on their roster for wide receiver Michael Woods II.

“The Broncos have waived RB Deuce Vaughn,” Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team shared in a post on X.

Could the Cowboys Reunite with Deuce Vaughn?

GettyDeuce Vaughn #42 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for yards against the Baltimore Ravens.

Vaughn is an intriguing player because when he has the ball in his hands, he has proven that he can make things happen. The problem is that, being as undersized as he is, there’s going to be a target on his back in pass protection. Simply put, Vaughn isn’t big enough to match up with opposing linebackers or safeties in pass protection, which makes it tough for an offense to disguise what plays it is running when he’s on the field.

Dallas could conceivably use some help at the running back position, but considering how they just released Vaughn last year, it’s tough to see the team reuniting with him at this stage of the game. Vaughn should be able to latch on with a new squad before training camp, but it seems unlikely that the Cowboys would be looking to bring him back to town so soon after moving on from him.