The Falcons released Washington on Sunday.
Washington was let go as part of a corresponding move to make space for recently acquired safety Justin Simmons on the Falcons' 90-man offseason roster. The 28-year-old wideout last played with the Cowboys during the 2022 season, when he appeared in just two games after fracturing his foot during training camp. Washington bounced around a few teams last offseason, but he went unsigned throughout the 2023 campaign and joined the Falcons on July 29, He'll now look for an comeback opportunity elsewhere this preseason.
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Falcons' James Washington: Set to join Falcons
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The Falcons are slated to sign Washington, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Washington last saw NFL regular-season action with the Cowboys in 2022, but the 2018 second-rounder did manage to record 114 catches for 1,629 yards and 11 TDs over four years with the Steelers (2018-21). With the Falcons, the 28-year-old will compete for depth slotting in a wideout corps currently led by Drake London and Darnell Mooney that also includes Ray-Ray McCloud, Rondale Moore and KhaDarel Hodge.
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James Washington: Staging NFL comeback
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Washington is attempting a return to the NFL and could try out for teams around the league soon, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Washington has reportedly received inquiries from multiple teams, so he should have tryouts lined up in the near future. The 2018 second-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career in Pittsburgh before signing with the Cowboys, suffering a fractured right foot in training camp, then playing only two games with Dallas. Now having had ample time to return to full health, the 28-year-old could find a place to contribute as a depth wideout with a new team.
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James Washington: Can't stick with Indianapolis
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The Colts are set to release Washington on Monday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Washington, a 2018 second-round pick, joined Indianapolis less than two weeks ago and will now have to look for yet another opportunity. The 27-year-old wideout failed to secure his only target across two games with the Cowboys last season.
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Colts' James Washington: Joins Indy WR corps
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The Colts signed Washington on Friday.
With Ashton Dulin (knee) having been placed on IR by the Colts, Washington gives the team some added pass-catching depth ahead of Week 1. For now, the 27-year-old figures to compete for slotting in a wideout corps that is currently led by Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Isaiah McKenzie and Josh Downs. Washington did not record a catch in two games with the Cowboys last season.
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James Washington: Gets let go
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Washington was released by the Saints on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Washington linked up with New Orleans in May, but he was unable to make enough of an impact to remain in contention for a roster spot. The 27-year-old has yet to match his second pro season, where he garnered a reputation as a downfield threat and averaged 16.7 yards-per-catch on 44 receptions for 735 yards. He'll now work to find a new opportunity.
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Saints' James Washington: Heading to New Orleans
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Washington agreed Monday with the Saints on a one-year contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
The 2018 second-round pick had 735 yards for Pittsburgh in his second pro season but otherwise has finished below 400 yards in every campaign, including last year when a broken foot and subsequent slide down the depth chart limited him to two games and zero catches for Dallas. The 27-year-old Washington now heads to New Orleans, where Chris Olave, Michael Thomas (toe) and Rashid Shaheed profile as the likely top three WRs. Washington will compete for a depth role amongst a group that includes Tre'Quan Smith, Keith Kirkwood, Bryan Edwards and sixth-round rookie A.T. Perry.
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James Washington: Gets opportunity with Giants
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The Giants signed Washington to their practice squad Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.
Once he made a recovery from the fractured right foot he suffered in training camp, Washington struggled to carve out playing time in a crowded Dallas receiver room. Upon being cleared for his Cowboys debut in Week 14, Washington went on to play just 14 snaps over his two games with Dallas before being waived last week. Washington didn't have to wait long to find a new opportunity with another playoff team, and given the underwhelming state of the Giants' receiving corps, it wouldn't be surprising if he was elevated from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's wild-card matchup with the Vikings. Even if Washington doesn't debut with the Giants during the postseason, his presence on the practice squad will at least allow the organization to evaluate him for a potential signing heading into the 2023 season.
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James Washington: On way out of Dallas
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The Cowboys informed Washington on Wednesday that he'll be waived, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
After joining Dallas on a one-year deal last March, Washington appeared to be in good shape to open the season in a top-three role at receiver while Michael Gallup worked his back from an ACL tear, but a fractured right foot suffered early in training camp prevented that from materializing. Following a lengthy recovery from surgery, Washington was cleared to make his season debut in Week 14, but he ended up playing just 14 snaps between his first two games with Dallas before sitting out the both of the past two weeks as a healthy inactive while the newly signed T.Y. Hilton supplanted him as the team's No. 4 receiver. Since Washington doesn't offer the ability to contribute on special teams like fellow depth wideouts KaVontae Turpin and Jalen Tolbert, the Cowboys elected to move on from the 26-year-old, who will seek out an opportunity elsewhere ahead of the 2023 season.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Isn't suiting up again
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Washington (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Titans, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
For the second consecutive game, Washington won't be available as a result of a coach's decision. In his absence, Noah Brown and T.Y. Hilton are both slated to serve as rotational wide receivers behind starters CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup in Week 17.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Healthy scratch Week 16
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Washington (coach's decision) has been ruled inactive ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Eagles, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Washington sat out the first 12 games of the season while recovering from a foot injury, and the 26-year-old has logged just one target while playing 14 offensive snaps since returning to action Week 14. With Washington sidelined, T.Y. Hilton appears set to serve as the Cowboys' No. 4 wideout while making his season debut Saturday.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Invisible in Dallas debut
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Washington failed to catch his only target and saw 11 offensive snaps in Sunday's win over the Texans.
Seeing his first action of the season after recovering from a foot injury, Washington's workload was limited, but he got a rude welcome to the Cowboys offense, getting the ball jarred loose on a big hit by Houston safety Jalen Pitre the only time Dak Prescott looked his way. With Noah Brown having earned Prescott's trust earlier in the year and coming off a big performance Sunday, Washington could have a hard time climbing above the No. 4 spot on the WR depth chart down the stretch.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Set to play Sunday
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Washington (foot) was activated off injured reserve Saturday and will play Sunday against the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Washington has not played this season after fracturing his foot during the preseason, but the long-time Steeler is gearing up to make his 2022 season debut in a pivotal divisional matchup against the Giants. Given the Cowboys' starting trio of wideouts -- CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Noah Brown -- are all healthy, it's hard to project many opportunities for Washington to carve out a consistent role. Expect the 26-year-old to be a quality depth piece for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Expected to play in Week 14
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Washington (foot) appears likely to be reinstated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that he thinks that Washington is ready to make his season debut based on what he saw out of the wide receiver at practices Wednesday and Thursday. Washington fractured his right foot in a training camp workout in August and has been sidelined all season after signing a one-year deal with Dallas in March. CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup are Dallas' clear top two receivers, and Noah Brown has been a pleasant surprise as the team's No. 3 wideout this season, so Washington may not find himself any higher than fourth on the depth chart if he debuts Sunday.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Back at practice Wednesday
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The Cowboys designated Washington (foot) for return from injured reserve Wednesday.
Just as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported would be the case earlier Wednesday, the Cowboys have cleared Washington to practice for the first time since he fractured his right foot in an Aug. 1 training camp workout. Because he's spent the past four months recovering from surgery, Washington may need more than a trio of practices before gaining clearance to play, so he's far from a safe bet to be activated from IR ahead of this Sunday's game against the Colts. The Cowboys will have a 21-day window to evaluate Washington for a return to the 53-man roster, so a Week 14 or Week 15 debut may be more realistic for the 26-year-old receiver.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Poised to practice Wednesday
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The Cowboys are expected to designate Washington (foot) for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Once the transaction is official, Washington will be eligible to practice Wednesday for the first time since Aug. 1, when he fractured his foot early in training camp and ultimately required surgery. Before getting hurt, Washington looked to be in strong position to begin the season as the Cowboys' No. 2 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb, but Michael Gallup completed his recovery from ACL surgery early in the season and has settled into that role since Week 4. The Cowboys will have a 21-day window to evaluate Washington in practice before adding him to the 53-man roster, but even once he's activated, the 26-year-old may be only a minor part of the offensive game plan.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Could practice soon
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Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that Washington (foot) has a chance of "joining us here real soon," Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Washington's 21-day practice window could realistically open soon, as he's now almost three months removed from initially having suffered his right foot fracture. Once healthy, Washington will stand to handle a depth role in Dallas' receiving corps, which has been in need of contributors at wideout behind CeeDee Lamb.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Feeling good, could return soon
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Washington (foot) isn't sure when he will make his season debut but said he's "pretty much healed" and "felt great" during a workout Wednesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Washington suffered a foot fracture in August and has been on injured reserve since the start of the regular season. The Cowboys needed him in September more than they do now, but Washington could nonetheless carve out a role at some point this season amidst a receiver group that includes CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Noah Brown.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Recovery on schedule
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Washington (foot) was spotted doing on-field work Thursday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The wide receiver has yet to make his Cowboys debut after suffering a foot fracture in early August, but Washington hasn't had any setbacks in his rehab. He'll be eligible to come off IR ahead of a Week 5 tilt with the Rams, but it's not yet clear if he'll be ready to suit up by then. It's also not clear what the former Steeler's role in the Dallas offense will be. CeeDee Lamb remains the team's No. 1 receiver, and Michael Gallup (knee) could rejoin the lineup as soon as Monday against the Giants, potentially leaving Washington to compete for the No. 3 spot with Noah Brown.
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Cowboys' James Washington: Spotted doing rehab work
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Washington (foot) took part in rehab work while the Cowboys practiced Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Working his way back from a broken foot, Washington is on injured reserve and has thus been ruled out for the first four games of the season. He seems to be making progress and could be available in October, though at that point he'll likely have missed his chance to take the field without competing against Michael Gallup (knee) for targets.
