Brett's Cowboys Corner

As the Cowboys training camp practices have wrapped up with the last two padded practices at the Star in Frisco. The front office and coaching staff have met to discuss where the 53-man roster will sit, as cuts will happen in less than a week.

Generally speaking, you will know your final roster by this time of the preseason or be pretty close to the final. More than likely Dallas has about 45 guys that are for sure going to make the team and have a few names off to the side that are ‘maybes’ and a big play Friday night, may move them to the 53.

I have a few guys who I think could make a big play and just sneak their way onto the 53-man roster along with some guys that could be a surprise cut.

Just makes it: Phil Mafah, RB

The highly debated room for the Cowboys have been the running backs. Though they haven’t come out and named a starter, Javonte Williams not getting any time in preseason and constantly getting reps with the one’s indicates the starting role.

Jaydon Blue the 5th round rookie has been explosive and will have a role in this offense. That leaves it up to the signed veteran Miles Sanders or the 7th round rookie, Phil Mafah. He is a power back and has shown good hands and the ability to hit the holes in his two preseason games.

Will the Cowboys trust their RB room in the hands of two rookies? A big game for Mafah might make it tough to cut him.

Surprise cut: Luke Schoonmaker, TE

This is a loaded tight end room. Jake Ferguson is the clear number one. But with Brevyn Spann-Ford in his second year. Young guys like Princeton Fant, John Stephens Jr, and Rivaldo Fairwheather have made some great motion in the TE room.

Schoonmaker has fallen as the best blocking TE on this roster, which should be his role. Now Schoonmaker is unlikely to play in the preseason finale as he currently is in concussion protocol after exiting Tuesdays practice.

Ferguson and Spann-Ford are on the roster, full back Hunter Luepke has played some TE and can be the TE4. That leaves one spot left. Though the Cowboys used a premium 2nd round pick in 2023 on Schoonmaker, at some point you mark it as a mistake and move on…or delay the inevitable.

Just makes it: Traeshon Holden, WR

Given the injury news on Johnathan Mingo, out 4-6 weeks. That leaves room at the bottom of the roster. There has been indication that Jalen Brooks will make the team, now as WR5. The default WR6 guy is Ryan Flournoy, who is a good deep ball threat and has had experience in real NFL games.

Holden has made great plays all over the field, and will see a larger role in this final preseason game. Holden is a UDFA from Oregon, who played under Junior Adams last season. Junior Adams now serves as the WR coach for Dallas.

Holden has a big sponsor in the room, and will have an opportunity to make it on the back end of the roster.

Surprise cut: Asim Richards, OT

This rumor has been floating around recently as Richards could be a surprise cut. Tyler Guyton is making great progress on his recovery and might be ready for week one. Nathan Thomas has been out performing Richards as the back up tackle.

The way this team has handled their oline room has been “right side” and “left side” players that can swing between tackle and guard. So the right tackle side has been dominated by Akeem Adeniji. It may become difficult to keep all of these offensive linemen on the roster.

Richards has been a better guard than tackle. But one thing that may keep him around has been his usage as a blocking tightend in jumbo packages.

Just makes it: Zion Childress, CB

The Cowboys have dealt with a laundry list of injuries at the cornerback position. We have seen DaRon Bland playing outside and Kaiir Elam has been starting on the other side.

The problem is the nickel corner spot. The Cowboys have essentially been holding tryouts and waiting for anyone to step up into that role. Kemon Hall has received a majority of first team reps, and safety Isreal Mukuamu has experience playing that spot.

With one game left, there is an opportunity for someone to make a final definitive statement in a starting role.