Just over three weeks remain until the Dallas Cowboys’ first game of the 2026 regular season. After starting their preseason slate with an impressive performance against the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas will face another NFC West opponent this Saturday, traveling to Arizona to take on the Cardinals.
The second preseason game tends to carry significant weight in determining what players ultimately make the 53-man roster. With that thought in mind, today we take a look at three offensive players with the most
to prove on Saturday night in Arizona.
1) RB Jaydon Blue
To this point, Jaydon Blue’s Cowboys tenure has been disappointing, to say the least. After playing in just five games during his rookie year, Blue looked to take a step forward this year and cement himself as Dallas’ RB2 in Oxnard. So far, that has not happened.
While he has shown some flashes during camp, Blue has struggled with consistency, and his fumbling habits have reared their ugly head once again. In Dallas’ first preseason game against Seattle, Blue got the most carries of any Cowboys running back, but the 22-year-old was not productive. The former Texas Longhorn recorded just 19 yards on eight carries, an average of 2.4 Y/A on the day.
To make matters worse, Blue hurt his shoulder during the game, forcing him to not participate in the scrimmage against the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday. Blue’s availability for Saturday night is still up in the air, but if he does play, there may be no Cowboy on the roster with more to prove in Arizona.
Time is running out for the young running back to prove he is capable of being RB2. If he wants a real chance to secure the job, it has to start with a good performance on Saturday night.
2) QB Joe Milton
Cowboys’ quarterback Joe Milton’s preseason got off to a fantastic start. While he did not start the game, the 26-year-old signal caller completed 12 of 15 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Following Milton’s productive performance, the Cowboys have not announced which quarterback will start on Saturday night in Arizona.
All things considered, Dallas would likely prefer Milton to show he is capable of being their backup quarterback. While Sam Howell has more NFL starting experience, Milton is the higher-ceiling player at the position. Given Dak Prescott’s advanced age, the Cowboys need a plan in place if he goes down with an injury this season. At this point, Milton may have more bust potential, but he also is capable of doing things athletically and arm-wise that Howell is not.
If the former sixth-round pick can build upon his performance from last week against the Cardinals, there is a good chance he could take a firm lead in the race for the backup quarterback spot.
3) WR Jonathan Mingo
Much like Jaydon Blue, Jonathan Mingo’s Cowboys tenure has not featured many highlights. Mingo came into camp with plenty to prove if he wanted to make the final 53-man roster. While he wasn’t the star on Saturday night, the 25-year-old’s arrow appears to be trending up after a solid showing against the Seahawks.
Mingo caught two passes for 20 yards to go with an impressive effort play on special teams.
If Mingo makes the 53, his ability to make an impact on special teams will likely be a big factor. He showed he is fully capable of doing just that on Saturday night. For arguably the first time during his tenure as a Cowboy, the former second-round pick has a chance to build upon a solid performance and help continue to make a case for why he deserves to make the final 53.
