Dallas Cowboys signing 28-year-old ex-Colts center in wake of Cooper Beebe injury

Mike Moraitis

Dallas Cowboys signing 28-year-old ex-Colts center in wake of Cooper Beebe injury image

Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Dallas Cowboys needed a bit more help at center and are reportedly adding it on Wednesday.

ESPN's Todd Archer reports that Dallas is signing former Indianapolis Colts center Wesley French to the practice squad.

The move comes after it was revealed that starting center Cooper Beebe is going to miss six to eight weeks with a lateral ankle sprain and fracture in his foot.

French was originally an undrafted free-agent signing of the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. He played in all 17 games for the Colts in 2023, starting in three of them.

The 28-year-old center posted Pro Football Focus grades of 56.7 in pass-blocking and 47.5 in run-blocking that season.

French, who has experience playing at both guard and center, was with the Colts during the offseason but failed to make the team's 53-man roster out of training camp.

During the preseason, French gave up three pressures but no sacks and had PFF grades of 54.1 in pass-blocking and 52.7 in run-blocking.

Moving forward, Brock Hoffman is expected to take Beebe's spot in the lineup. French just gives the Cowboys some extra depth just in case.

"I definitely feel for Coop obviously getting hurt," Hoffman said of Beebe's injury. "You never want anybody to get hurt, but in terms of me, it's the same thing as kind of last year with those last seven games the year, stepped in for Zack [Martin]. I'm ready for whatever opportunity comes. I just always have a motto of stay ready so you don't have to get ready. That's what I'm here to do. I'm here to ball out and help this team keep getting wins."

The Cowboys will return to action in Week 3 when they take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.