Hayden reached a one-year agreement with the Cowboys on Thursday, Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas reports.

Hayden started all 16 games for the Cowboys in both 2013 and 2014, but he doesn't have much to show for it from a statistical perspective. He hasn't recorded a sack since 2011, and he's never piled up more than 25 tackles in a season.

Hayden (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

With fellow defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford (knee) out, the Cowboys will be happy to have Hayden available, even if he is operating at less than 100 percent.

Hayden (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

Hayden logged just one practice this week, and that was a limited showing Friday. With Hayden questionable and Tyrone Crawford (knee) out, Dallas might be without both of its starting defensive tackles.

Hayden (shoulder) wasn't in uniform during Wednesday's practice, the Dallas Morning News reports.

He was able to do some conditioning work, however, and hasn't been ruled out yet for Sunday.

ESPN Dallas considers Cowboys DT Nick Hayden the favorite to start next to Henry Melton.

Melton will start at three-technique, while Hayden, Terrell McClain, Tyrone Crawford, and Ken Bishop compete for snaps next to him. Hayden started all 16 games last season, playing 843 snaps, but received extremely poor marks both as a run defender and pass rusher at PFF, grading out as their 68th defensive tackle out of 69 qualifiers. McClain will be given every opportunity to win the job.

Cowboys DT Nick Hayden is taking Jay Ratliff's (hamstring, PUP) place in the starting lineup.

It speaks to the Cowboys' (typical) lack of depth. A 2008 sixth-round pick of the Panthers, Hayden has made just two appearances since 2010. He was out of the league last season.

Cowboys signed DT Nick Hayden to a reserve/future contract.

A sixth-round pick of the Panthers in 2008, Hayden has made 13 career starts and profiles as offseason depth for a Dallas team transitioning from a 3-4 to 4-3 defensive scheme. In the 4-3, Hayden is a defensive tackle.

Bengals signed DT Nick Hayden.

Hayden started 10 games for the Panthers last season, ending up with 31 tackles and one sack. He'll fill the roster spot vacated by Pat Sims (injured reserve, ankle).

Panthers DT Nick Hayden suffered a concussion in the first half of Thursday's Week 16 game and was replaced by Andre Nesblett and Corvey Irvin.

Though we would never root for someone to get hurt, Hayden has been lackluster at best for the Panthers. On the other hand, Nesblett has been impressive against two of the league's better running attacks, Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Look for him to get the nod in Week 17 if Hayden is ruled out.

According to Panthers beat writer Steve Reed, Nick Hayden will once again start over Ed Johnson at defensive tackle.

Hayden held his own against Steven Jackson in Week 8, and has a great chance to continue his solid play as the Panthers take on the Saints and their lackluster running attack in Week 9.

Panthers DT Nick Hayden started over Ed Johnson in Week 8.

"It was one of those situations where nobody was necessarily kind of standing out, but that we tried to get a little different mix in there and give Nick a chance to stand up and do something," DC Ron Meeks said. Hayden didn't register a tackle but did help to limit Steven Jackson to 59 yards.