Byron Cowart Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Falcons vs Jets game on Sunday with our National Football League injury report.Aug 27, 2025
Placed on injured reserve
The Jets placed Cowart (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday, Randy Lange and Eric Allen of the team's official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Cowart missed all three of the Jets' preseason games due to an ankle injury that he suffered during training camp practice in early August. By being placed on IR prior to Tuesday's 4:00pm ET roster cut deadline, Cowart will be forced to miss the entire 2025 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Jets. The 2019 fifth-round pick appeared in 15 regular-season games (including seven starts) for the Bears last year and posted 26 tackles (14 solo), including 2.5 sacks.
Aug 5, 2025
Leaves practice early
Cowart (ankle) left practice early Tuesday, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record reports
ANALYSIS
Cowart exited practice due to an ankle injury on Tuesday. The 29-year-old spent 2023 on the Jets' practice squad and signed a one-year, $1.17 million contract in March to return after spending last season in Chicago, where he appeared in 15 games and tallied 26 tackles. He is expected to start at defensive tackle alongside Quinnen Williams.
Mar 13, 2025
Signed by Gang Green
Cowart signed a contract with the Jets on Thursday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
After spending the entire 2023 season on the Jets' practice squad, Cowart played in 15 regular-season games (including seven starts) for the Bears in 2024 and finished with 26 tackles (14 solo), including a career-high 2.5 sacks. Cowart will use the offseason and training camp to compete for the second starting job at defensive tackle next to Quinnen Williams (hamstring).
Jan 6, 2025
Set career high in sacks
Cowart recorded two tackles and 1.0 sacks in the Bears' 24-22 win over the Packers on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Playing in his fourth season, Cowart set a career high with 2.5 sacks while posting 26 tackles on a 32 percent snap share. The veteran is an unrestricted free agent.
May 18, 2023
Quickly gets new deal
Cowart signed a contract with the Texans on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Cowart was released by the Chiefs on May 10, after having signed a contract with the team in March. The veteran defensive tackle appeared in 17 games for the Colts last season, recording 12 tackles (four solo). He'll likely compete for a depth role on the Houston defensive line.
May 10, 2023
Cut by Kansas City
The Chiefs released Cowart on Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Cowart will head back to free agency after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Chiefs back in March. The 2019 fifth-round pick logged 12 tackles (four solo) last season while suiting up in all 17 games for the Colts.
May 10, 2023
Released by Kansas City
Cowart was released by the Chiefs on Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Cowart will head to free agency despite signing with the Chiefs back in March. The 2019 fifth-round pick logged 12 tackles (four solo) last season for the Colts and will now try to catch on with another team for the upcoming campaign.
Mar 24, 2023
Finds work in Kansas City
Cowart signed a contract with the Chiefs on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Cowart is now slated to join the reigning Super Bowl champs this upcoming season following Friday's agreement. The 26-year-old spent this previous campaign operating as both a rotational defensive lineman and as a special-teams contributor as a member of the Colts.
Jul 23, 2022
Joining Indianapolis
Cowart was claimed off waivers by the Colts on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
The 26-year-old will join Indianapolis after the team waived defensive end Scott Patchan in a corresponding move Saturday. Cowart was let go by the Patriots on Friday after he missed the entirety of the 2021 season while on the PUP list with an undisclosed injury.
Jul 23, 2022
Let go by Pats
Cowart was cut by the Patriots on Friday.
ANALYSIS
Cowart was drafted by New England in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He ultimately played in 19 games, starting 14, and recorded 29 tackles, one sack and one pass defensed during that span. He is now set to look for a new destination.
Jun 8, 2022
Remains inactive at practice
Cowart (undisclosed) has remained on the sideline for practice at mandatory minicamp, Zack Cox of NESN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The defensive end has yet to return to practice after he missed all of last season while on the PUP list with an undisclosed issue. Cowart last played in 2020, making 27 tackles including a sack with a pass deflection over 14 games. He's expected to be a reserve option behind Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux this season.
Nov 10, 2021
Won't come off PUP list
Coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday that Cowart (undisclosed) will remain on the PUP list, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Cowart was placed on the reserve/PUP list prior to the start of the regular season, and though he was designated for a return Oct. 20, he will ultimately remain sidelined for all of 2021. The 2019 fifth-round pick will focus his attention toward getting healthy for 2022.
Oct 20, 2021
Designated to return from PUP list
The Patriots designated Cowart (undisclosed) to return from the PUP list Wednesday, Andrew Callahan of Boston Herald reports.
ANALYSIS
Cowart has been on the PUP list since late July, but he has finally returned to practice, which begins the 21-day period for him to be added to the active roster. If he isn't, then he will remain on the PUP list for the remainder of the season. Last year, the 25-year-old played in 14 games and registered the second-most defensive tackle snaps for the Patriots, but his role may be slightly diminished when he returns due to the addition of 38th overall pick Christian Barmore.
Sep 2, 2021
Moves to reserve/PUP list
The Patriots placed Cowart (undisclosed) on the reserve/PUP list Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
Cowart will be eligible to come off the PUP list as soon as Week 7, though the nature and severity of his injury remain undisclosed. He notched 27 tackles (14 solo), one sack and one pass breakup across 14 appearances last season.
Jul 23, 2021
Lands on PUP
Cowart (undisclosed) was placed on the PUP list Thursday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The extent of Cowart's injury is unknown, and he can activated off the PUP list at any point during training camp. Last year, the 25-year-old played in 14 games and registered the second-most defensive tackle snaps for the Patriots. However, his role may be diminished this year as New England selected Christian Barmore 38th overall, making him the first defensive tackle off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Dec 6, 2020
Clear to face Chargers
Cowart (back) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Chargers.
ANALYSIS
A back injury held Cowart out last Sunday against the Cardinals after he resided on the reserve/COVID-19 list between Oct. 11 and Oct. 21. He's started all nine games that he's appeared in thus far in 2020, collecting a total of 23 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Nov 29, 2020
Not playing Week 12
Cowart (back) is inactive for Sunday's game against Arizona.
ANALYSIS
The 24-year-old will be sidelined for at least one game due to the back injury. Isaiah Mack should have an increased role on the defensive line in Cowart's absence.
Oct 21, 2020
Returns from coronavirus
The Patriots activated Cowart from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Jim McBride of The Boston Globe reports.
ANALYSIS
Cowart tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 11, but as evidenced by this news, he's turned in two negative test results 24 hours apart. The Maryland product has supplied eight tackles (three solo) in four games this season, so he'll likely assume his usual rotational role across the Patriot defensive line for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Oct 11, 2020
Tests positive for coronavirus
Cowart tested positive for COVID-19 late Saturday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports. The Patriots will place him on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
ANALYSIS
Cowart becomes the third Patriots player to test positive for COVID-19 in just over a week, joining quarterback Cam Newton and cornerback Stephon Gilmore. His positive test resulted in New England shutting down its facility Sunday for the third time in 10 days, with the NFL subsequently postponing the Patriots' game Monday against the Broncos until Sunday, Oct. 18. Cowart could gain clearance to play Week 6, but he'll first need to submit two negative COVID-19 test results at least 24 hours apart.
Dec 17, 2019
Clears concussion protocol
Cowart is not listed on the Patriots' injury report Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Cowart has cleared the league's concussion protocol and put in a full practice Tuesday. He should return to provide depth along the Patriots' defensive line.
Nov 30, 2019
Will not play Week 13
Cowart has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Texans due to a head injury.
ANALYSIS
It is unclear when Cowart obtained the injury, as he was not on the Patriots' injury report prior to this news. His absence does not figure to have an impact on the team's defense, as he primarily just provides depth at nose tackle.
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