DALLAS — The first preseason game for the Dallas Cowboys arrives this Sunday as they travel to play the Los Angeles Rams. For the first time since their bitter January Wild Card defeat, the Cowboys will take the field, albeit without many of their best players lining up.
While the final score won’t matter, there is much to be gained in the exhibition contest. This is the next step in evaluations to see who has what it takes to make the roster. The game will be an extension of what’s been happening in camp and the position battles will play out against actual competition.
Who can back up the hype or improve on what they’ve shown from the first few weeks in camp? Here’s who to pay attention to as the preseason kicks off for the Cowboys:
Quarterback Trey Lance
It has been an up and down camp for former top pick Lance. There have been moments where Lance has struggled with the nuances of the offense and he’s thrown some baffling interceptions, but there have also been some signs the young QB is putting the pieces together.
By most accounts, Lance’s play has been improving as the practices wear on, showing that he has the talent to excel. Lance has also shown good athleticism in camp, which will be his best attribute as he continues to grow at the position.
The Cowboys know what they have in backup QB Cooper Rush, so this will be the first opportunity to get an extended look at Lance as the potential clipboard holder for starter Dak Prescott.
Wide receivers named Jalen
With owner Jerry Jones having no urgency to end CeeDee Lamb’s contract dispute holdout, the Cowboys are getting a long look at some of their younger options, and they have to be impressed thus far. Former third-rounder Jalen Tolbert was listed as a starting WR in the team’s first depth chart, while second-year WRs Jalen Brooks and Jalen Cropper were listed on the second team.
All three have had some good moments in camp, but that’s against the same competition every day and in seven-on-seven drills that can be advantageous to the offense. Against the Rams, the young receivers will go up against new cornerbacks and see different coverages, how they adjust to being challenged should tell Dallas more about their trio of Jalens.
Which WR will step up when the opposition gets tough might help the team’s depth chart shake out as the regular season approaches.
Defensive lineman Mazi Smith
The Cowboys don’t always play their starters in their first preseason game, but that might not be the case for the second-year defensive tackle. After a rough rookie campaign and some uneven moments in camp, 2023 first-rounder Smith could use the extra reps against some alternate competition.
Defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina has talked about putting Smith in a better position to succeed, and how he’s a work in progress.
“He’s doing good,” Zgonina told reporters. “He’s learning a new style. We’re a little bit different than they were last year. He’s learning. He’s trying new things. We’re trying to get the right fit for him. He’s doing well. He’s gotta get his conditioning going because he’s coming off the injury. But he’s in a good spot. We just gotta keep getting better and better every day, that’s why we come to training camp.”
This will be the first time fans get a look at the young DT, and all eyes will be on Smith to see if he’s improved from his disappointing first year. He might not get much playing time because he’s coming off his injury, but Smith is somebody to focus on against the Rams.
Linemen Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe
The rookie offensive linemen were selected in the premium rounds of the draft, but neither has earned a starting job yet. Guyton had shown significant improvement before an illness slowed his progress, but he's been back on the field and the first-round pick should see significant action. Everyone is always excited to see how the prized pick does in his first game action, and it’ll be good to see Guyton at left tackle against NFL competition.
Beebe, meanwhile, was thought to be one of the more pro ready draft picks, but he’s had some issues with his long snaps in camp. The third-round pick will get a chance to work on that part of his game, as well as deal with a formidable Rams defensive line in the preseason opener. How Beebe fares in relation to starter Brock Hoffman will be something to keep an eye on.
Running back rotation
One of the more intriguing position battles this summer is at RB, where the team doesn’t have a workhorse back. Veteran Ezekiel Elliott was listed as the starter on the depth chart, but he likely won’t see many carries – if any – in the exhibition game.
Instead, expect to see some Rico Dowdle, and more from RBs Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn and Royce Freeman. The hope is that camp injuries to Vaughn and Freeman don’t stop them from playing in this contest and help to separate the three in the battle for the final RB spot.
Also expect to see hybrid fullback Hunter Luepke get some playing time as the Cowboys try to find a role for him.
Rookies Marist Liufau and Caelen Carson
Two more rookies to watch for are the third-round linebacker and the fifth-round cornerback. Liufau is listed as one of the starters at LB and has been lauded for his ability to diagnose plays quickly.
The rookie should see playing time against one of the savvier offenses in the league, which will test where Liufau is at in his development.
At CB, Carson has been one of the highlights in camp. The rookie has been good in coverage and has gotten his hands on several QB passes during practices, backing that up with an interception against the Rams in a joint practice.
The Cowboys thought they had a steal when they drafted Carson in Round 5 in April, but Carson’s play has been even more impressive than expected so far in camp. Liufau and Carson are two players to watch in the preseason opener to see if their play in practice translates into game action.
Do you think the Cowboys will start off the preseason with a win against Los Angeles? Share your predictions with Ben on X (formerly Twitter) @BenGrimaldi.
