The second preseason game is over and done with for the Dallas Cowboys. Only one preseason game remains, and it’s starting to get a little easier figuring out which players will make the team’s 53-man roster. On Saturday evening against the Baltimore Ravens, we got a look at more key players, which helps provide some sense of a pecking order in how the coaching staff views their players. There are still a handful of players on the fringe, but here is how things are starting to look when it comes
to the team’s final roster and who makes their 16-man practice squad.
QUARTERBACK (2)
Dak Prescott
Joe Milton
Practice squad: Will Grier (veteran)
A shaky performance by backup quarterback Joe Milton has made a lot of people nervous. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer isn’t panicking, but fans are sitting uneasy because the thought of Dak Prescott missing any time now scares us to death. Remember, the closest the Cowboys have come to advancing past the divisional round over the last eight seasons was the year Prescott missed five games and Cooper Rush went 4-1 in his absence. Having a viable backup QB is very important. Will Grier played a little more in this game, but nothing that would push him into a roster spot. The Cowboys may need to consider looking elsewhere for a reliable backup.
RUNNING BACK (4)
Javonte Williams
Jaydon Blue
Hunter Luepke
Phil Mafah
Practice squad: Miles Sanders (veteran)
We got a little more mixture of running back play this week compared to last week, but it didn’t make anything any easier in figuring out how this will shape out. It feels like the veteran Miles Sanders and the rookie Phil Mafah are battling it out for the final RB spot, and neither of them played great, nor did they play poorly. The offensive line struggled to open up lanes as the rushing attack never got going. The Deuce Vaughn situation is a little strange. With roster spots scarce, it’s hard to see him having any type of role on this team, so it should be interesting to see how that plays out.
TIGHT END (3)
Jake Ferguson
Luke Schoonmaker
Brevyn Spann-Ford
Practice squad: John Stephens Jr. and Princeton Fant
Not much has changed here. The main three are still the main three. The other four – John Stephens Jr., Princeton Fant, Rivaldo Fairweather, and Tyler Nevile are all candidates for the practice squad. Both Stephens Jr. and Fant played on Saturday. Stephens Jr. had three catches for 26 yards, and Fant had one catch for 33 yards over the middle, but injured his shoulder on the play. Last week, the new undrafted free agent rookie, Fairweather, was projected to make the practice squad with Fant, but we’re changing it to the veteran UDFA Stephens Jr. now.
WIDE RECEIVER (5)
CeeDee Lamb
George Pickens
KaVontae Turpin
Jalen Tolbert
Jalen Brooks
Practice squad: Ryan Flournoy and Traeshon Holden
Last week, we mentioned that it was hard to leave Jalen Brooks off the roster and that problem might have taken care of itself if Jonathan Mingo is expected to miss time after injuring his knee in Saturday’s game. Brooks is a special teams contributor who has already played in 21 games over the past two seasons, so his experience is valued. Ryan Flournoy and Traeshon Holden are likely headed for the practice squad.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10)
Tyler Smith
Terence Steele
Cooper Beebe
Tyler Booker
Tyler Guyton
Brock Hoffman
Nate Thomas
T.J. Bass
Hakeem Adeniji
Saahdiq Charles
Practice squad: Asim Richards and Ajani Cornelius
Surprisingly, nothing has changed with this group from a week ago. In fact, Saturday’s game solidified things we already knew. Hakeem Adeniji again started the game at right tackle and played with the backup unit the entire time, while Asim Richards and rookie Ajani Cornelius played with the third-string squad. Saahdiq Charles was inactive with an injury, but still holds on to the last roster spot to secure depth along the interior offensive line.
DEFENSIVE END (6)
Micah Parsons
Dante Fowler
Marshawn Kneeland
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Sam Williams
Tyrus Wheat
Practice squad: Payton Turner and James Houston (veteran)
The Cowboys are so deep at defensive end that it’s difficult to leave guys off, but there is only so much room and the team needs space for other positions. The first five seem like roster locks. Where it gets tricky is figuring out who makes it between Payton Turner, Tyrus Wheat, and James Houston. The veteran Houston had a few nice plays, but also was ineffective on others. Wheat is more consistent and is a proven special teams contributor, and for that reason, he replaces Turner on the 53, pushing Turner to the practice squad. Note – Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys trade some of their surplus depth at this position to address a weaker area elsewhere.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (4)
Osa Odighizuwa
Solomon Thomas
Mazi Smith
Jay Toia
Practice squad: Perrion Winfrey, Earnest Brown, and Denzel Daxon (International Pathway Program)
Things didn’t look any better for the team’s interior defensive line. Mazi Smith continues to be slow off the snap and unable to get off blocks. Rookie Jay Toia looked good on some plays, but was off balance on others. He’s played well enough to protect the draft investment as he develops. Perrion Winfrey again had a solid game. The question becomes, will it be enough to make the team give up on either Smith or Toia, and right now, the answer still feels like no. Three-year veteran Earnest Brown has shown up here and there, adding him to the practice squad.
LINEBACKER (5)
Marist Liufau
Kenneth Murray Jr.
Jack Sanborn
Shemar James
Damone Clark
Practice squad: Darius Harris (veteran) and Justin Barron
We got to see a couple of new faces this week with veteran Jack Sanborn and rookie UDFA Justin Barron making their preseason debut. Damone Clark had a much better game this week, which likely secures his spot on the roster. Rookie Shemar James continues to flash his speed. He’s still developing, but could find himself on the special teams unit this year if he makes the active roster. Barron looked good in what reps he got and should be a player the team wants to keep around on the practice squad.
CORNERBACK (6)
DaRon Bland
Kaiir Elam
Caelen Carson
Andrew Booth
Kemon Hall
Israel Mukuamu
Practice squad: Zion Childress
Last week, there was a lot of moaning and groaning about the idea of keeping Andrew Booth or Kemon Hall on the roster, and understandably so. Both have been a liability in coverage at times. But they also can make plays, and they did just that on Saturday night. Each of them had an interception, with Booth returning his for a touchdown. For those keeping score, that’s one pick each for the three bottom roster corners. Many believe Zion Childress will make the cut. While he’s played well, it feels like the team will play it safe and roll with the more experienced guys to hold things down until reinforcements come.
SAFETY (4)
Malik Hooker
Donovan Wilson
Markquese Bell
Juanyeh Thomas
Practice squad: Alijah Clark
No changes here. Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas are solid backups and play special teams. UDFA Alijah Clark could sneak in on the practice squad.
SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
Brandon Aubrey
Bryan Anger
Trent Sieg
C.J. Goodwin
The team’s four specialists are safe. There is nothing to see here.
Here is a current 53-man roster projection. Note – teams are allowed 16 practice-squad players (17 with a player in the International Pathway Program), with up to six of them being a “veteran” player with more than two accrued seasons (indicated by a triangle).
