Cowboys Officially Release QB Kyle Orton

Update:

The Dallas Cowboys officially announced the release of veteran QB Kyle Orton on Wednesday.

Orton, 31, still had two years remaining on his three-year, $10.5 million contract. Dallas could have forced Orton to pay back his $3 million signing bonus had Orton retired, but he’ll now be able to keep the bonus.

Dallas will free up just $995,000 in cap space following this move, according to OverTheCap.com.

In 2013, Orton stepped in for Romo after he suffered a season-ending back injury. Orton threw for 358 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a loss to the Eagles.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Cowboys are releasing backup QB Kyle Orton.

Orton has been in a standoff with the Cowboys for a few months now, and wasn’t in attendance for the start of minicamp, so it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Dallas ultimately elected to move on without him.

The Cowboys signed some extra quarterback depth this offseason when they brought in former Browns first-round pick Brandon Weeden and Caleb Hanie as Tony Romo is coming off of an offseason back surgery. Weeden figures to be the team’s backup quarterback this season.

We’ll have to see if Orton files his retirement papers in the coming weeks.