With one preseason game remaining, the Cowboys still have a few tough decisions to make before finalizing the 53-man roster. But time is running out.
Dallas has already gone through training camp, two joint practices and two preseason games. At this point, most of the roster is probably close to decided. Friday night against the Saints is about settling the few competitions that are still open and giving players on the bubble one final chance to make their case.
Two battles in particular stand out: backup quarterback and the final spots in the wide receiver room. Beyond those, there are still questions at running back, offensive tackle and cornerback that could make the preseason finale worth watching well beyond the final score.
QUARTERBACK: At what point does preseason production have to win Joe Milton the backup quarterback job?
Brian Schottenheimer has continued to call the competition between Milton and Sam Howell close, and there is certainly more that goes into the evaluation than what happens during preseason games. The coaching staff has watched every rep in practice going back to the spring. Still, Milton has made it increasingly difficult to ignore what he has done when the lights have come on.
Milton followed a strong finish against Seattle with his best performance of the preseason against Arizona, throwing for 179 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. Howell, meanwhile, finished with 65 passing yards and an interception. Schottenheimer still isn’t ready to name a winner, making Friday one final opportunity for both quarterbacks to separate themselves.
For Milton, I don’t necessarily need another highlight-reel performance. I want to see him continue to operate the offense efficiently, be comfortable in the playbook, and just show his arm talent, which is what got him here in the first place. I think Milton has the lead; the Cowboys could keep all three QBs, but I think it is more likely they try to sneak Howell onto the practice squad.
Wide Receiver: Camden Brown has done almost everything he can to force his way onto this roster, but Jonathan Mingo isn’t going away quietly.
Brown has been one of the fan-favorite stories of camp. After standing out during training camp, he carried that momentum into the games and showed he could turn opportunities into production. That should matter. But making the roster as the fifth or sixth receiver requires more than simply showing you can catch the football.
This is where Friday becomes especially important. If Brown makes the team, his offensive opportunities could be limited once CeeDee Lamb and the rest of the starting receiver group are on the field. That means special teams becomes a major part of the equation. Can Brown cover kicks, block and find other ways to contribute when he’s not involved offensively? Jonathan Mingo brings more NFL experience and remains firmly in the conversation, which could leave Dallas deciding whether it wants to keep five receivers or find room for both.
Brown has already proven he deserves serious consideration. Friday is about proving he can fill the type of role Dallas would actually need from its final receiver on Sundays. Another strong offensive performance would help, but showing value on special teams may ultimately be what finishes the job.
Note: The Cowboys could go short somewhere else and totally keep both receivers.
Beyond quarterback and wide receiver, here are three more quick roster questions I’ll be watching Friday night:
RUNNING BACK: Malik Davis has made a strong case to be RB2 behind Javonte Williams. Hunter Luepke is likely taking one of four backfield spots as the full back. Teams usually only carry four backs. This leaves either Jaydon Blue or Phil Mafah as the odd man out. The Cowboys would love for both their young RBs, Blue & Mafah, to make the team, but at some point the consistency of Malik Davis has to win, right?
OFFENSIVE TACKLE: The backup tackles haven’t inspired much confidence for Dallas yet. It’s unfair to expect much from a 4th-round rookie in Drew Shelton. Nate Thomas was intended to be the swing tackle, but there has been some regression. Is Dallas comfortable with its current depth, or will it look outside the building?
CORNERBACK: The top of the depth chart looks settled, but the depth behind the starters remains a question. Devin Moore, the rookie out of Florida, hasn’t separated himself and has dealt with some injuries during camp. This leaves a potential opportunity for the 4th outside corner spot to be still avaliable; is there still time for Caelen Carson, Josh Butler, or Ameer Speed to take it?
Friday night is the final opportunity for players on the bubble to make their case before Dallas turns its attention toward finalizing the 53-man roster, which takes place Sunday.
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