The Dallas Cowboys have taken steps to bolster both sides of the ball ahead of Sunday’s Week 8 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium.

On Saturday, the team activated safety P.J. Locke from Reserve/Injured-Designated for Return and elevated tight end James Mitchell from the practice squad to the active roster.

Locke’s return addresses depth in a secondary that has rotated several options opposite Malik Hooker in recent weeks.

The 29-year-old undrafted free agent out of Texas joined Dallas on a one-year contract last offseason after spending the bulk of his career with the Denver Broncos.

He appeared in the first two games of 2026, starting once and recording three tackles, before a torn plantar fascia sustained in the Week 2 win over Washington landed him on injured reserve in late September.

After opening his 21-day practice window and participating fully on Friday, Locke is now available and is expected to contribute for the Cardinals game.

His presence offers a more experienced option at safety for a defense still working toward greater consistency, with fellow safety Jalen Thompson remaining on injured reserve due to a hamstring issue.

On the offensive side, the elevation of Mitchell provides insurance at tight end. Luke Schoonmaker has been listed as questionable with a groin injury and did not practice on Thursday or Friday.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has indicated the team could lean more on fullback Hunter Luepke if Schoonmaker is unavailable.

Mitchell, a 27-year-old former fifth-round selection by the Detroit Lions out of Virginia Tech, has appeared in 35 career games and posted 16 receptions for 169 yards with one touchdown.

After stints with Detroit and Carolina, he signed with Dallas’ practice squad in early September.

His call-up positions him to potentially suit up Sunday if Schoonmaker is ruled out, giving the Cowboys an experienced blocker and occasional receiver behind Jake Ferguson and Brevyn Spann-Ford.

These moves come as Dallas, sitting at 3-4, looks to build on its 38-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

Hosting a 2-5 Cardinals team offers a chance to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season.

With kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET on FOX, the activations give the Cowboys added flexibility as they prepare for Arizona.