Former Sacramento Mountain Lions safety Andrew Sendejo has been promoted to the Dallas Cowboys active roster.

He was signed to the Cowboys practice squad on Nov. 24 and he joined the active roster today. The Cowboys cut defensive end Jimmy Saddler-McQueen to open up a spot for Sendejo.

Sendejo, a rookie from Rice University and a Texas native, will be in uniform when the Cowboys play at the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, December 5.

“It’s awesome being moved up to the active roster and my goal now is to stay there and contribute wherever I can,” said Sendejo, who grew up a Cowboys fan.

Sendejo participated in his first practice with the Cowboys today, although it was a light one. He will be involved in a heavier and longer practice on Wednesday, December 1.

“It’s a crash course to learn special teams and defense and things like that,” Sendejo said. “There is a lot on my plate to learn right now. You get activated and you want to show your teammates that the staff made a good decision to activate me . . . Special teams is where I’m going to be mainly (right away).”

Sendejo was a big-time playmaker for the Mountain Lions this Fall, tying for second in the UFL with 48 total tackles. The Mountain Lions went 4-4.

The UFL season came to a close on Saturday as the Las Vegas Locos beat the Florida Tuskers 23-20 to win the championship in Omaha, Nebraska. Sacramento had a combined record of 3-1 against Las Vegas and Florida this year.

Sendejo, 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, had tryouts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints prior to joining the Mountain Lions this year.

Sendejo is looking forward to this weekend.

“All of it is going to be a new experience,” he said. “Being dressed down on the sidelines and getting in, if it happens, you will always look back and remember it . . . Everyone from back home is elated for me. Not only getting to the NFL but doing it with the Cowboys.”

He finished his Rice career second on the all-time tackles list with 318. He tied for second in the UFL with 48 total tackles this season.

For ticket information fans may visit www.sacmountainlions.com. Fans can also visit www.buyUFL.com for merchandise.