IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys have released guard Nate Livings just a year after signing him as a free agent to shore up their offensive line.

The Cowboys originally put Livings, who prepped at Washington-Marion before playing at LSU, on season-ending injured reserve after he had the second arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in the past six months during training camp.

Dallas still has to pay Livings $1.7 million this season. He signed a five-year contract with the Cowboys last year and started all 16 games in 2012. But Dallas had the worst per-game rushing average in team history last season, and Tony Romo was sacked a career-high 36 times for the second straight year.

The Cowboys also released defensive tackle Travis Chappelear.

Nate Livings. (American Press Archives)