The Cowboys made some roster moves on Tuesday – signing free agent center/guard Gennaro DiNapoli and rookie fullback Erik Bickerstaff. They also reached an injury settlement with defensive end Darrell Wright.
DiNapoli, a five-year veteran, signed a one-year deal to help bolster the depth of the offensive line. The deal could count as much as $1 million against this year’s salary cap. The ex-Titan is expected to receive a $150,000 signing bonus.
DiNapoli (6-3, 287) started all 16 games with Tennessee last season, but was released for salary cap reasons in the off-season. He was expected to re-sign with the Titans for a lower base salary, but decided to join the Cowboys instead.
Second-round pick Al Johnson sprained his left knee Saturday morning and has not practiced since. He is getting a second opinion on his knee, which could mean surgery to repair his meniscus. If that occurs, he will need at least two weeks to recover, putting him ready to get back on the field close to the start of the regular season.
Bickerstaff was expected to be Wisconsin's starting fullback last fall but had no eligibility. He was a walk-on in 1998 and lost a year of eligibility because he was already partially qualified.
He could have earned it back by graduating in four years. But school officials discovered last summer that he was on pace to graduate in 4 1/2 years and wouldn't be able to play.
Wright, an undrafted rookie from Oregon, broke a bone in his left hand during practice last Wednesday. He had surgery Thursday to repair a broken bone.
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