Last week against the Green Bay Packers, wide receiver Ryan Flournoy was named as a player to watch, given the attention on CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. He caught seven passes for 40 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets, his first of the season.
Dallas is traveling to Philadelphia to face an Eagles team in a similar situation. Both teams have been ravaged by injuries and are in must-win territory, considering the New York Giants continue to stack wins. The city of brotherly love hasn’t been kind
to the Cowboys recently, winning just two games there since 2018.
It’s the kind of game where players who aren’t expected to shine need to stand out, and the team needs to play as one. Here are three under-the-radar players who could be big contributors Monday night.
Brandon Aubrey
The Cowboys kicker signed a well-deserved contract extension this offseason after performing like the best kicker in the NFL for the last three seasons. However, the start to the 2026 season hasn’t been his best from long distance. On 50-plus-yard kicks, Aubrey is just 2-for-5.
Dallas’ offense has struggled to find its identity over the last two weeks, so scoring will be at a premium against the Eagles. Not to mention it’s an outdoor stadium, which can give the three-time Pro Bowl kicker some trouble. The Cowboys will have to rely on their kicker in a game that could end 15-10.
He’ll also need to be better on kickoffs and keep the ball in bounds to give the Philadelphia offense good starting field position. We saw in the Baltimore Ravens game how that could really hurt the Cowboys’ defense.
Cooper Beebe
Dallas has invested first-round picks at both guard spots and left tackle. While much of the spotlight is on Terence Steele for his struggles, Cooper Beebe is the often-forgotten man along the offensive line. This week, Beebe might have his toughest matchup of the season.
He’ll face three premier defensive tackles: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo. When facing that group of players one-on-one, he has allowed five pressures across 31 pass blocks (16.1%), per NFL Pro. In most cases, Beebe has had double-team help when facing the group.
Tyler Smith’s recent return to the lineup should help Beebe, but he’ll still have to win his one-on-one matchups. Dak Prescott got hit against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers. Keeping the pocket clean will be paramount, especially if the offense wants to get CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens back on track.
Jonathan Mingo
With KaVontae Turpin out with a rib injury, Tyler Goodson and Jonathan Mingo will be relied on in the return game. Goodson won’t get many opportunities if Dallas’ defense limits Philly’s scoring. That means all eyes will be on Mingo as the team’s primary punt returner.
Mingo showed a bit of something against the Packers, returning one punt for 16 yards. Mingo’s not on the same level as Turpin as a return specialist, but his biggest test will be avoiding turnovers. We’ve seen players make mistakes, especially in situations they aren’t too familiar with.
It would be a win if Mingo spent the entire game waving his hand for a fair catch on every punt. As long as he doesn’t cough it up and give the Eagles offense momentum to score in what could be a tightly contested game. Just give Dallas’ offense the ball back and let them go to work.
