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Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott didn’t take a preseason snap, but he appears comfortable with Mike McCarthy’s tweaks to the offense. As part of the learning process, McCarthy did something unexpected and handed the play-calling reins over to Prescott for the final preseason game. The veteran starter proved in one half of football that he has a future in coaching when he’s done playing if he wants to pursue that direction. Prescott led the Cowboys to a 31-16 victory against the Raiders, and the offense put up 457 yards of offense, went 11-for-17 on 3rd/4th downs, scored on five drives, and never punted. Dak Prescott took it all in stride: "Yeah, it's fun. It's a great time. This is the (stuff) you dream about when you play this game. It's not just playing the game; it’s being able to impact it every which way." Only a few weeks ago, we were discussing whether Will Grier could make a credible push to displace Cooper Rush as the backup, but the front office completely upended the conversation by trading for Trey Lance on Friday. Lance, the former third overall pick, was deemed expendable after veteran Sam Darnold was declared the backup to starter Brock Purdy. While everyone has their own interpretation of Lance’s failure in San Francisco, it’s hard not to appreciate the Cowboys acquisition, considering it only cost a fourth-round draft pick, and Dallas maintains the rights to Lance through 2025 via a team option. Several sources indicate Lance will be the No. 3 behind Prescott and Rush to start the season, but at the latest, he should have the opportunity to move into the backup spot next year. Some skeptics took this move as an attempt by ownership to gain leverage against Prescott as he comes due for another contract extension, but Jerry Jones vehemently denied the speculation. "Didn't cross my mind, period, about an impact here regarding Dak," Jones said. "I know that Dak wants to do anything we can do to improve this team, and we're going to do it. The facts are that the decision to bring in as high a quality of talent as we could, that's involving young talent ... that's something that we've been trying to do, just never the opportunity seems to be there. So often we've been trying to do what we did today with this trade almost every draft since we've been drafting." Despite being told he wasn’t making the final roster earlier in the day, Will Grier lit up the Raiders. He completed 29-of-35 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 53 yards and two more scores.
Running Backs
The Cowboys rested Tony Pollard, Deuce Vaughn, and Rico Dowdle in the final preseason game, likely signaling they’re the trio who will make the initial 53-man roster. Dowdle wasn’t always impressive this summer but outperformed Malik Davis, but Davis appears unlikely to make the roster as rookie h-back Hunter Luepke got the start over him. Luepke had 118 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.
Wide Receivers
The top four have been set for weeks thanks to Jalen Tolbert’s remarkable turnaround from a disastrous rookie year this summer. CeeDee Lamb remains the clear alpha receiver and will be joined by a new running mate – Brandin Cook – on the outside. Michael Gallup is finally healthy and looks potent as the primary slot option. Tolbert will be the No. 4, and KaVontae Turpin also has a roster spot as the return specialist. Undrafted rookie Jalen Brooks has done everything possible in practice and pregame reps to land the final roster spot if they opt to keep a sixth receiver.
Tight Ends
The only intrigue at the tight end position is whether Sean McKeon makes the final roster as the No. 4. McKeon is versatile, giving the offense scheme flexibility. Jake Ferguson didn’t make many highlight-reels this summer, but his teammates and coaches are all convinced he can effectively replace Dalton Schultz’s contributions. Rookie Luke Schoonmaker missed too much of the summer to have a major role early in the season, but the talent is there for bigger things in the future. Peyton Hendershot rounds out the top three.
Kickers
New kicker Brandon Aubrey had two field goal attempts from 59 yards and made one of them in the preseason finale, which should be good enough to secure him the Week 1 kicking job. Both kicks had the distance to be good, and the successful attempt came on a high snap, showing his ability to adjust to a poor setup. He also made 4-of-4 extra-point attempts.
Defense
The team will have to make tough choices for the final few roster spots, but the starters are a compelling bunch. DeMarcus Lawrence, Mazi Smith, and Osa Odighizuwa will start up front, with rookie Smith earning his way into a key role with a strong summer. Micah Parsons – the best player on the team – will be joined by Damone Clark and Leighton Vander Esch at linebacker. In the secondary, Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, and DaRon Bland will man the corner spots until Jourdan Lewis gets healthy and can push Bland to reclaim the spot. Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, and Jayron Kearse will all play roles at safety.
Returners
KaVontae Turpin was named MVP of the USFL last summer, then earned a Pro Bowl trip after fielding all but one return opportunity for the Cowboys last fall. His role remains secure, and he is a strong candidate to lead the league in total return yardage in 2023.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
The Cowboys wrapped up the Oxnard, California leg of training camp last week and then played the Seattle Seahawks in the second preseason tilt before heading home to Texas to finish out the summer. Beat writers have had differing views on how Prescott looks, but most of the reports skew positively. ESPN’s Todd Archer tallied unofficial stats on the veteran quarterback: “Cowboys leaving for Seattle as Oxnard portion of camp ends. In the padded practices, Dak Prescott was unofficially 141 of 216 with 7 interceptions in 7-on-7 and team drills. 5 of those picks came in 2 practices. Difficult to count TDs w/ no tackling, but around 25 was my count.” But Prescott and the rest of the offense got fantastic news last week when All-Pro guard Zack Martin ended his holdout after agreeing to a new 2-year, $36 million extension that adds nearly $9 million in new money. The suggestion Will Grier would push Cooper Rush for the backup job seems ill-fated just a few weeks later, as Rush has re-asserted himself while Grier has thrown interceptions in both preseason contests.
Running Backs
Tony Pollard got another veteran day off as he’s not only the clear-cut No. 1, but he’s essential to the team’s success, given the drop-off from him to the other tailbacks. The mysterious case of Deuce Vaughn continues. Through two preseason games, he’s rushed 12 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns, by far the best stat line of any tailback on the roster. But all his touches have come when the deep backups are on the field for both teams, complicating their relevance. After last week’s game, we noted the next step would be seeing the coaches give Vaughn a chance higher up the depth chart, yet that didn’t happen against the Seahawks as both Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle played ahead of him; Vaughn didn’t get into the game until the second half. Despite his frustrating placement on the depth chart, his strong performance during training camp and the lackluster pedigrees of Dowdle and Davis support the notion that Vaughn is not only a lock for the 53-man roster but also someone who could vie for a regular role. The Athletic’s Jon Machota projects Davis as the odd-man out if Dallas only keeps three tailbacks on the roster. Against Seattle, both Davis and Dowdle rotated in with the starters and had eight carries apiece, but Dowdle had the highlight with a 6-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
Wide Receivers
As we noted last week, Jalen Tolbert has done a 180-degree turn from last year’s disappointing preseason and worked his way into an uncontested role as the No. 4 receiver – aka, the next man up – behind starters CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup. He led the team with four receptions for 66 yards and had another strong week of practice leading up to the game. As for the starting trio, Lamb and Cooks were two of Dallas’ camp standouts, and Gallup is 100% healthy, which is a win in and of itself. With KaVontae Turpin a roster lock as the special teams’ return specialist, one spot is up for grabs. The drumbeats have beaten the loudest for rookie Jalen Brooks, while his top competition – Simi Fehoko – has struggled.
Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson didn’t play against the Seahawks, as he’s locked into the No. 1 role. Rookie Luke Schoonmaker may have the highest long-term upside, but having missed most of training camp is a setback that will probably keep him from contributing much early in the season. Peyton Hendershot played 20 of 25 snaps with the starters in the game, potentially holding off veteran Sean McKeon for a roster spot. A few beat writers have called out undrafted rookie John Stephens Jr., who played receiver in college, but he, unfortunately, tore his ACL against the Seahawks and will miss the season.
Kickers
Newly appointed kicker Brandon Aubrey converted two extra points but did not attempt a field goal in the loss to the Seahawks. Both owner Jerry Jones and team president Stephen Jones expressed support for Aubrey as the kicker, yet the team has not prioritized giving him field goal attempts during the preseason. This could indicate they intend to look closely at veterans who lose their kicking battles in other camps. It is premature to anoint Aubrey.
Defense
Micah Parsons was the best player in camp, at any position, according to Machota. He noted, “It’s not even close. Parsons was the best player in Oxnard and probably on any training camp field across the NFL this year. He seems poised to have an NFL Defensive Player of the Year season.” For the defense to live up to expectations, the defensive line rotation has to generate a pass rush on those rare occasions when Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence need a breather. Second-year edge rusher Sam Williams is starting to look like the answer. The Athletic pointed to Williams as one of the risers coming out of the Seahawks game, noting, “Williams had a great sack in which he faked a speed rush and bulldozed his way into taking down Seattle starting QB Geno Smith. Williams also flew around to the ball and made plays at the line of scrimmage.” While edge depth is improving, linebacker depth is a problem now that rookie DeMarvion Overshown has torn his ACL. On the interior, rookie first-rounder Mazi Smith struggled against the Seahawks, continuing his volatile preseason. Last week, we highlighted safety Juanyeh Thomas’ strong summer and excellent play against the Jaguars in Week 1, but this week he got an inexcusable taunting penalty that changed the game’s momentum.
Offensive Line
The return of right guard Zack Martin following a 21-day holdout brings a crucial boost to the Cowboys offensive line. Martin is widely regarded as one of the premier blockers in the league. The line's potency extends to left tackle Tyron Smith and right tackle Terence Steele, who is back from injury. The Cowboys possess an elite offensive line with ascending young players like left guard Tyler Smith and center Tyler Biadasz in a contract year. Their performance places them 2nd in the preseason rankings.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
Dallas’s most notable quarterback news this week centered around Dak Prescott’s inclusion in the NFL 100. The veteran came in at No. 56 on the list and was the 8th-ranked quarterback out of 14 signal-callers listed. Regarding on-field developments, Cooper Rush started against the Jaguars and appears to have held off a camp push by Will Grier for the No. 2 job. It’s possible Grier could get a chance to play with the starters in the coming weeks after going 22-for-31 with 199 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in mop-up duty. Still, several notable beat writers noted Grier’s problematic decision-making as a reason to throw cold water on his alleged push.
Running Backs
Tony Pollard rested against the Jaguars, as expected. Notably, he was named one of the NFL’s 100 best players, coming in at 55th (one spot ahead of Dak Prescott) and slotting at the seventh-ranked running back overall. The real question is how the Cowboys will proceed if Pollard gets hurt because the depth chart is no more solidified now than it was a month ago. Malik Davis got the start but struggled as a runner (three yards on four carries) and blocker. Rico Dowdle fared better (six carries for 21 yards) but negated any goodwill with a lost fumble. Diminutive rookie Deuce Vaughn (eight carries for 50 yards, three receptions, and a touchdown) had the best day, but it came in the second half. Vaughn has looked good throughout the summer, but we need to see the coaches reward him with opportunities higher up the depth chart. Given Davis’ and Dowdle’s struggles, the odds of adding a veteran tailback are increasing, whether it’s Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt, or someone else. Ronald Jones II’ pending two-game suspension and current groin injury cloud his outlook.
Wide Receivers
CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup have secured the top three receiver positions and were given a rest against Jacksonville. Gallup's acceptance of his role as the team's No. 3 receiver bodes well for Cooks to shine. “That’s how it’s kind of always been all my years here playing for the Cowboys, just kind of been that third wide receiver,” Gallup said. “But if they get doubled, that means I’ve got to be one-on-one, so that’s easy pickings for me.” Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, and KaVontae Turpin got the start, and each ran 12+ routes with Cooper Rush under center. Tolbert has shaken off a forgettable rookie season and has cemented his role as the No. 4. Team reporter Patrik Walker opines, “[Tolbert’s] OTAs were solid. His minicamp was even better. And his training camp in Oxnard has been an eye-opening experience when comparing how he's performing on the field now to the unsettled version of himself that was still trying to figure things out in 2022.” KaVontae Turpin isn’t projected to have a significant role offensively, but his roster spot has been considered safe as the presumptive return specialist. While that remains the case, for now, he fumbled the first punt against Jacksonville. The Athletic’s Jon Machota highlighted Lamb, Cooks, and Tolbert as camp standouts.
Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson has maintained his position atop the depth chart throughout the summer. Seeing him play on third downs against the Jaguars was encouraging because Peyton Hendershot had that role last year when Dalton Schultz was off the field. The only real mystery is whether Sean McKeon can make the roster as the fourth tight end, which appears increasingly likely as rookie Luke Schoonmaker has been slow to integrate into the rotation because of a foot injury.
Kickers
The Cowboys made a move during the week, releasing Tristan Vizcaino and leaving former professional soccer player and USFL kicker Brandon Aubrey as the sole kicker on the roster. Aubrey's performance included a successful 29-yard field goal in the first preseason game, but he also missed one of three extra-point attempts. This situation raises concerns reminiscent of Brett Maher's four extra-point misses in last year's playoffs. This remains an unsettled situation.
Defense
Most starters rested against the Jaguars, which gave a few younger players a chance to win the coaches’ confidence. Damone Clark was disruptive and in control of the huddle and looks set to start alongside Leighton Vander Esch. Safety Juanyeh Thomas intercepted Trevor Lawrence early in the game to continue his strong summer, but it’s unclear whether he can show enough to crack a deep and talented secondary. DeMarvion Overshown also showed well, which is vital considering Vander Esch’s injury history. In terms of the defensive players who had the best training camps, Machota highlighted edge rusher Micah Parsons, cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Trevon Diggs, and DeRon Bland, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and linebacker Vander Esch.
Returners
Kevontae Turpin was named MVP of the USFL last summer, then earned a Pro Bowl trip after fielding all but one return opportunity for the Cowboys last fall. Even though he fumbled the first punt of the preseason opener, his job should be secure. He could lead the league in total return yardage.
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
No discussion of the Cowboys' training camp can begin without acknowledging the transition from Kellen Moore to Mike McCarthy as play-caller. Moore led the Cowboys to three top-5 finishes in four seasons but was let go because McCarthy wanted to assume play-calling duties, as he had done for most of his head coaching stint in Green Bay. The Athletic’s Jon Machota detailed the major changes, which include more emphasis on pass protection, quicker decision-making in the passing game, and straightforward route concepts to ensure Dak Prescott and his receivers are on the same page. McCarthy attributes much of Prescott’s league-worst 15 interceptions last year to miscommunication resulting from Moore’s intricate route concepts. Prescott is pleased with the initial progress in adapting to the new system and credits his coaches. "There are things [McCarthy] has brought from his past, West Coast-type elements," Prescott said. "Guys are much further along [than in 2018], and so am I. That's credit to Coach [McCarthy] and to [Brian Schottenheimer] for installing the plays with precision and ensuring everyone grasps the play's purpose, details, and their role within it." It's hard to picture Cooper Rush losing the backup role after a 4-1 record as an effective substitute last year, but some beat writers believe Will Grier is too promising to relegate to the practice squad.
Running Backs
Tony Pollard is set for the lead role after signing his $10mm franchise tender. Last season, Pollard gained 1,378 yards and 12 touchdowns on 232 touches, while Ezekiel Elliott managed only 968 yards (and 12 touchdowns) on 248 touches. With Elliott off the roster (for now), there are looming questions. First, how will Pollard’s role evolve as the No. 1 back? Can he endure 300+ touches? If not, who will fill the No. 2 role and assume the 200+ vacated touches? McCarthy has expressed a desire to prioritize the run, signaling opportunities for other running backs. Veteran Ronald Jones II is the assumed No. 2 but has shown little in recent seasons. He's also facing a 2-game suspension to kick off the season. Rookie Deuce Vaughn has had an impressive camp start, but given his size at 5-foot-6, 176 pounds, he's likely headed for a specialized role. Coach McCarthy had high praise for all the backups, except for Jones: “I must say, I’m loving Rico (Dowdle), and it’s wonderful having him back. Malik (Davis) has made the leap we were hoping for. Those players truly stand out. We certainly need to involve (Vaughn) more." While a reunion with Elliott might make sense, nothing appears imminent.
Wide Receivers
The receiving corps is better than its been in years, thanks to a healthy Michael Gallup and the arrival of veteran Brandin Cooks. But regardless of the talented depth chart, CeeDee Lamb remains the clear-cut No. 1. He has improved in each season and looks dominant in the first week of practice. Cooks turns 30 in September but has shown no signs of slowing down as he acclimates to his fifth NFL locker room. The early returns at the bottom end of the roster are equally encouraging, as Jalen Tolbert looks far better prepared this year than he did in a forgettable rookie effort. And seventh-rounder Jalen Brooks is doing all the right things to stake a claim for a roster spot.
Tight Ends
Dalton Schultz’s departure ensures a spirited camp competition for snaps. Jake Ferguson is most likely to start. Rookie Luke Schoonmaker could push for a role quickly, but he’ll first need to get on the practice field after missing the first week with a plantar fascia injury. With Peyton Hendershot and Sean McKeon showing well early, the team may utilize a committee approach, at least to start the year.
Kickers
The kicker competition degraded into worrisome territory over the weekend. On Saturday, Tristan Vizcaino went 4-of-8 on field goal attempts, with all four misses between 33 and 39 yards. Brandon Aubrey did better, going 5-of-7, but his misses were 33 and 42 yards. Additionally, the duo went a combined 1-of-6 on “mojo moment” attempts from long distance. Neither kicker was outstanding leading up to the practice, with Aubrey going 19-of-24 and Vizcaino 18-of-24 through August 3. This job could go to a kicker that isn’t currently on the roster. On Monday, August 7, the team released Vizcaino.
Defense
Dan Quinn’s defense finished 5th in points allowed last year and led the league with 33 turnovers, setting a high bar for a team that believes it is in a championship window. Micah Parsons is the centerpiece of the talented defense and has been the best player – at any position – in camp, according to Machota. A few seasons back, the secondary was a point of concern, but now the team boasts a solid core, extending contracts for starters Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, and Trevon Diggs and onboarding the perennial All-Pro, Stephon Gilmore.
