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Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott finished the preseason on the sidelines, as planned. There was nothing for the veteran quarterback to prove, and camp was all about getting into game shape, building rapport with his new receivers, and staying healthy. Mission accomplished. The only question left to answer is whether Will Grier did enough to unseat incumbent Cooper Rush as the No. 2. Rush got the start in the preseason finale against the Seahawks and played only one series, indicating the team sees him as the backup. Grier got a long look, completing 12-of-22 passes for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns. If Grier doesn’t win the job, he’s certainly done enough to pique the interest of other teams with less compelling backup situations.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott was treated with kid gloves all summer, but he’s looked great in practice and enters the season 100% healthy. All summer, we heard tales of Tony Pollard participating in receiver group meetings and being coached one-on-one as a slot receiver. On the other hand, we haven't seen evidence of that usage in preseason games, as Dallas opted to keep Pollard safe on the sidelines for most of August, along with the other key starters. Many forget Pollard was the slot receiver in college at Memphis as much as he played a traditional tailback role. “There is a ton of it on film. A lot of it is coming back to him,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “I think he does have more than just that. He’s not going to run just the running back route tree, the quick game and just kind of the completion plays. He can stretch people vertically, and I think that will be a huge advantage for him to put people in conflict of how they want to handle him.” Prescott is excited by Pollard’s role as a receiver, too. “He can get out there and be one of our best pass-catchers, and just the way that he's grown, just with his route running from the time that we've asked him to take on that role is impressive itself.” Dallas usually only carries three running backs, but Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis are making it difficult, as both had excellent summers.
Wide Receivers
The decision not to put Michael Gallup on the PUP list indicates hope he’ll be back on the field well before the four games he would’ve missed by mandate. If he’s back on the field before October, it’s a major boon to the offense as it takes the pressure off Jalen Tolbert and allows him to contribute as the No. 3 versus being a high-volume starter. Gallup’s recovery and James Washington’s injury likely force Dallas to keep six or seven receivers on the 53-man roster. CeeDee Lamb is the unquestioned No. 1, and Tolbert and Noah Brown will start alongside him. In an earlier update, we highlighted Dennis Houston as a camp star who likely wouldn’t make the final roster. But two weeks later, it looks like Houston will join Simi Fehoko as roster locks. KaVontae Turpin is also a lock, albeit mainly for his excellence as a kickoff and punt returner.
Tight Ends
Dalton Schultz is the starter and should be among the most targeted tight ends in the NFL, at least early in the season until the receiving corps gets healthy. Rookie Jake Ferguson made an excellent first impression and could be the long-term starter, depending on what happens with Schultz’s contract. Veteran Sean McKeon is a lock because of his blocking prowess. The only question is whether undrafted rookie Peyton Hendershot did enough to stick on the final roster. A handful of beat writers think his performance against the Seahawks was enough to make the team, but late-game heroics playing against third- and fourth-stringers probably aren’t enough to keep him from the practice squad.
Kickers
The Cowboys waived Liram Hajrullahu, bringing the return of Brett Maher to the team’s kicker job full circle. Maher was released in 2019 after only making 20-of-30 field goal attempts. We’ll see how tolerant the team will be of any lapses in accuracy this year. Consider Maher on one of the shortest kicker leashes in the league.
Defense
There are questions about how effective the defensive line can be, particularly in generating a consistent pass rush. But no one can question the unit's depth, as several likely cuts will quickly land on other teams and play meaningful snaps. Rookie Sam Williams got his first sack of the preseason versus Seattle, but he has consistently pressured opposing quarterbacks in joint practices and the other preseason games. He’ll join DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler in the defensive end rotation. Trysten Hill faced a make-or-break preseason and answered the call. He should be part of the tackle rotation alongside Osa Odighizuwa, Neville Gallimore, and Quinton Bohanna. The linebacking unit is probably the best in years, as veteran Anthony Barr adds versatility alongside All-Pro Micah Parsons and dependable Leighton Vander Esch. At cornerback, rookie fifth-rounder DeRon Bland was exceptional all summer and has likely moved ahead of Nahshon Wright and Kelvin Joseph into the No. 4 slot behind starters Trevon Diggs, Jourdan Lewis, and Anthony Brown.
Offensive Line
Tyron Smith hasn’t played more than 13 games since 2016 and has missed 20 games over the last two seasons. Unfortunately, he will miss most of this season after suffering a knee injury on Thursday. Rookie Tyler Smith had been competing at left guard throughout camp but was drafted as the long-term answer at left tackle. Barring a veteran addition in the coming days, the rookie may be thrust into the limelight. Team vice president Stephen Jones confirmed plans, “The good news is we addressed it in the draft. From the get-go, we said Tyler Smith is our future left tackle. The future just might be sooner than later, not unlike Dak in 2016. He had to step up when Tony [Romo] got hurt. We didn’t go get a veteran quarterback.”
Returners
After returning a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same preseason game, former USFL MVP Kevontae Turpin is a virtual lock as the Cowboys’ return specialist for 2022.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott capped two days of joint practices against the Chargers with a 50-yard Hail Mary touchdown to rookie receiver Dennis Houston. “It was good to end on that note,” Prescott said. “Just being in that situation at end of the game. The guys did a job of protecting, letting me buy some time. I put it up. Glad we came down with it.” The excitement of the final play shouldn’t obscure what was a frustrating two days otherwise, partly because Prescott didn’t have CeeDee Lamb (foot) or Noah Brown (toe) at his disposal. Will Grier, who had been making a push for the No. 2 job, returned to team drills this week after a groin injury kept him out for a few days. Cooper Rush started against the Chargers in this weekend’s preseason tilt and completed 3-of-6 passes for 32 yards. He should’ve had a touchdown, but Jalen Tolbert failed to get both feet inbounds in the end zone. In his preseason debut, Grier was sharp (6-of-10 for 98 yards), but head coach Mike McCarthy said he may have re-aggravated the groin injury.
Running Backs
There’s no mystery at the top of the depth chart, as Ezekiel Elliott will get another shot at a workhorse role, and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will try his best to manufacture opportunities for Tony Pollard. But the No. 3 spot remains a spirited competition. It would be surprising if the Cowboys kept more than three running backs on the initial 53-man roster, but Rico Dowdle and rookie Malik Davis are making strong cases. Both played well against the Chargers, generating a combined 78 yards after contact.
Wide Receivers
After being anointed a starter on the first day of camp, expectations for Jalen Tolbert may have gotten overhyped. As camp has unfolded, he’s flashed the talent that made him an early-round pick, but he’s been inconsistent – which shouldn’t be unexpected given his inexperience. But the idea he will step into a prominent role and become a star is unfair. The Athletic’s Jon Machota called out Tolbert as one of six players trending downward. “The immediate expectations for the third-round pick were probably too high entering training camp. Tolbert has the tools to become a good NFL wide receiver; it just might take him some time.” Every training camp seems to have a player or two who shines but is still far outside regular-season relevance. Dennis Houston fits that bill in Dallas. He’s been one of the more consistent receivers this summer but still faces long odds of making the 53-man roster. CeeDee Lamb lacerated his foot on Tuesday and missed joint practices against the Chargers. And Noah Brown is out with a toe injury. The threat of losing the team’s clear alpha receiver was enough for SBNation’s Matt Holleran to demand the team add a veteran receiver. “This team needs to add an outside receiver, and they need to do it right now. The Cowboys have the third-most available cap space in the NFL and saved a good chunk of money by moving on from Amari Cooper and La’el Collins this offseason, so they have absolutely no reason to not spend some money and bring in an outside wideout.” USFL star KaVontae Turpin was added midway through camp but is all but assured a roster spot for his special teams’ aptitude. He returned a kickoff (98 yards) and a punt (86 yards) for touchdowns against the Chargers. Michael Gallup was running routes in practice last week, the first on-field activity he’s done since last year’s ACL tear.
Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson isn’t assured of anything yet, but he’s made a solid case to start the season as the No. 2 tight end behind Dalton Schultz. Machota concurs: “The rookie continues to show that he could already be the team’s second-best tight end behind Schultz. His catch over the middle and broken tackle was one of the game’s best highlights. The Cowboys might have found themselves another mid-round draft steal at the position.” Coach McCarthy was equally effusive after the game. “He’s such an instinctive, tough football player. That’s what we really liked about him coming from Wisconsin. He hasn’t disappointed. He’s scrappy. He’s on the edge. He’s chippy. All those things. The young man can play.”
Kickers
The Cowboys turned up the heat in their kicker competition and mostly caused both kickers to wilt. In practice on August 19, with a narrower-than-regulation set of goalposts, Brett Maher went 6-for-9 with the longest good kick from 50, while Liram Hajrullahu went 4-for-9 with a long make from 52. Maher was just short from 61 in the win over the Chargers, and Hajrullahu was good from 35. The kickers also made three extra point attempts between the two of them. Maher is probably ahead because of his leg strength, but this is a kicker situation to avoid because it will remain unstable going into the season, no matter who wins.
Defense
Cornerback Jourdan Lewis suffered a hamstring injury that will put him out for the remainder of the preseason and possibly into the regular season. His injury opens the door for fifth-round rookie DaRon Bland to start the season in the defensive rotation. Bland has been a stand-out all summer and looks comfortable as the starting nickel corner recently. Anthony Barr finally participated in team drills this week. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn showed a traditional 4-3 front against the Chargers in joint practices with Barr, Micah Parsons, and Leighton Vander Esch. Quinn’s base formation calls for only two linebackers, but this could be a situation of adjusting to have the 11 best defenders on the field. The depth at defensive tackle is impressive, particularly with Trysten Hill looking like a new man after three injury-marred seasons. Hill had a strip sack and fumble recovery against Los Angeles and has done enough this summer to secure one of the top four spots on the interior rotation.
Offensive Line
There is a battle for the left guard position between rookie Tyler Smith (first-round, Tulsa) and veteran Connor McGovern. Smith crushes in run blocking, but he has been penalty prone in his college career and preseason action. Smith has upside over McGovern, but the rookie lacks technical mastery of the blocking calls, and this could make McGovern the safer bet early in the season. They are still an elite group if Tyron Smith and Zack Martin remain healthy.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
The Cowboys wrapped up their time in Oxnard, California and Dak Prescott did what needed to be done. He wasn't perfect, but it's clear he's comfortable in the offense and, more importantly, is fully healthy and willing to use his legs more this year after taking a step back as a runner last season. The Dallas Morning News' Clarence Hill had Prescott completing 24-of-33 passes in Thursday's joint practice with the Denver Broncos. With the veteran signal-caller not expected to play much, if at all, in preseason games, Prescott viewed the joint practice as his preseason. Will Grier has been pushing Cooper Rush all camp for the No. 2 role and may have gained ground despite missing the Broncos games with a sore groin. Rush struggled, completing 12-of-20 passes for 84 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) with an interception and could’ve been intercepted multiple times. If Grier can get back on the field soon, expect the coaches to give him a long look as the backup.
Running Backs
No matter what anyone thinks about Ezekiel Elliott's declining productivity, it's clear that the coaches and front office do not see him as a liability yet. The Athletic's Bob Sturm elaborates, "Does Mike McCarthy need to play Ezekiel Elliott over Tony Pollard? Probably, unless Jerry and Stephen sign off on it. Last year, they finally agreed that Jaylon Smith was a large mistake, but they don't seem close to that with Zeke — and McCarthy doesn't seem to disagree." But to be clear, Elliott looked sharp in Oxnard practices, as did Pollard. SBNation's Danny Phantom agrees, "Both Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard have looked fantastic so far in camp. If both can stay healthy, they will surely be one of the league's top dynamic duo running back tandems this year. Even Rico Dowdle has looked good from what little we've seen." Following up on last week's report of Pollard participating in the wide receiver meetings, too, the Dallas Morning News says offensive quality control coach Kyle Valero is doing one-on-one tutoring with Pollard on playing as the slot receiver. Neither Elliott nor Pollard played against Denver, giving each of the backups – Dowdle, Aaron Shampklin, Malik Davis – plenty of touches. They combined for 119 yards on 24 carries.
Wide Receivers
Practices aren't the same as games, but CeeDee Lamb has done everything possible in Oxnard to convince observers he's ready to grab hold of the No. 1 role and stake a claim to the league's best young receivers. Jalen Tolbert hasn't been as consistent, but he hasn't shied away from being thrust into a starting role. Unfortunately, he was one of the few projected Week 1 starters to take the field in the preseason tilt against the Broncos and struggled. Tolbert only had two receptions on seven targets and a bad drop on fourth down. With James Washington and Michael Gallup out, the inexperienced backups desperately needed to flash, and that's fortunately what transpired this week in practice. Second-year Simi Fehoko was the most notable of the backups, particularly in his ability to come down with 50/50 balls. It's not unreasonable to think that Fehoko could be a better solution than Washington longer-term. He caught a touchdown playing with the third-stringers against Denver, so it remains unclear whether the coaches are seriously considering him for a regular role.
Tight Ends
Everyone knows Dalton Schultz's importance to the offense, but Sean McKeon deserves acknowledgment as the No. 2 and principal in-line option. While McKeon isn't a downfield threat, he's an excellent blocker and plays a critical role in the offense. Rookie Jake Ferguson made plays against Denver (3 catches for 29 yards), as did undrafted Peyton Hendershot (2 catches for 13 yards). Expect Ferguson to make the 53-man roster, with Hendershot being a priority for the practice squad.
Kickers
The kicker battle took another turn this week, as they released Jonathan Garibay and brought back Brett Maher, their kicker in 2018 and 2019. Liram Hajrullahu was easily beating Garibay in the camp competition. Still, the team wanted to bring in another kicker to take Garibay’s spot, trying out four kickers on Tuesday, August 9, before settling on Maher. Hajrullahu missed from 56 in the preseason opener, but it wasn’t a clean hold, while Maher made an extra point on his only attempt.
Defense
Unsurprisingly, Micah Parsons was the best player in training camp (on either side of the ball), per Machota. Parsons and cornerback Trevon Diggs (11 interceptions in 2021) are two main reasons why ESPN rated the Cowboys as the best under-25 roster in the NFL. Safety Jayron Kearse had an improbable sixth-year breakout season last year, his first with Dallas. His coaches believe it wasn't a fluke, so much that he's now calling the plays in the defensive huddle. Secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. thinks Kearse is among the NFL's best. "I believe J.K. is the best-covering safety in the league. If you go back and look. Last year at what he did in man situations, I think the film speaks for itself." Although they were heavily penalized, the defensive line shut down Denver’s ground attack and allowed just 39 yards on 22 attempts (1.8 yards per rush). The secondary wasn’t nearly as effective, save for rookie cornerback DaRon Bland who had a terrific game.
Returners
The Cowboys have used CeeDee Lamb as a punt returner and let Tony Pollard field kickoffs for the last few years. Still, both players are reportedly in line to see a bigger role on offense this year, so Dallas is likely to work in KaVontae Turpin, fresh off an MVP performance in the USFL, to keep its offensive playmakers fresh and healthy.
Other Notes
The team committed 17 penalties for 129 yards against Denver, which was the most of any team this week. While it’s only one preseason game, it comes after Dallas was the most penalized unit last season, too.
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott has little to prove as a regular-season quarterback, as his legacy now is about finding postseason success. With that in mind, the 29-year-old franchise quarterback is determined to maximize the preseason and training camp when many would be tempted to take it easy and coast. Of particular note, Prescott worked hard on changing his mechanics to improve his velocity. Tight end Dalton Schultz told reporters Prescott’s throws have “a lot more horsepower. “I catch his footballs every day, and the dude’s got like just an uncanny amount of zip on his ball now.” Given Cooper Rush’s exceptional play in a spot start last season, you would think he’s locked into the backup role. But the coaches are positioning this as a battle, thanks to Will Grier’s marked improvement. “I think Will’s taken a big step,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think coming in here when he did last year, there’s definitely a transition to the terminology, the language and all those types of things. But I really like the camp he’s had. He’s definitely made a move this week.”
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott won’t play in the preseason, by design. “I’ve been playing football 20 years. This is my seventh year in the NFL. I’ve seen a lot of football. I don’t think I need a preseason game, especially with the joint practices with the Broncos and Chargers,” he said. After playing through a partially torn PCL last season, he looks healthy and re-invigorated in camp. Although teammate Tony Pollard had better metrics last year, Jerry Jones clearly expects Elliott to remain the workhorse. “No, seriously, Zeke's gotta be our feature, and he is our feature," Jones said. "We can feature him in a lot of different ways. We all recognize what he does in the passing game because of his protection ability. Don't ever underestimate that, especially with Zeke. Zeke takes some tolls when he's out there as a back blocking. So, it's critical that we make Zeke -- because he's capable of being that -- really the focus of what we're doing.” While Jones gets what Jones wants, the coaches are trying to find ways to expand Pollard’s role, anyway. Pollard attends running back and wide receiver meetings when the units break up during training camp. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore confirmed plans to get Pollard more opportunities by turning him into a receiver. “He’s a guy that we want to get the ball to. He’s had a ton of success when he does get those opportunities. I think the running back role is one thing, certainly when Zeke and him can kind of tag-team that role, but then it’s another opportunity for him to expand that role and play in some different positions, out in space and some of the things that certainly he’s capable of doing. I think the more we expand those roles, the more opportunities he’ll be able to get out there and get touches.” Backups Rico Dowdle and Aaron Shampklin contracted Covid-19 last week, leaving the team precariously short on practice depth.
Wide Receivers
With Amari Cooper traded to Cleveland, CeeDee Lamb’s role as the alpha receiver is uncontested, and he’s looked every bit the part through the first week and a half of training camp. Lamb was cited by many beat writers as the best player in camp, with The Athletic’s Jon Machota noting Lamb is “catching everything thrown his way.” Rookie Jalen Tolbert is slotted for a starting role immediately, which is a big leap for someone who played against Sun Belt defensive backs last year. It’s been an encouraging start to camp, as Tolbert won plenty of one-on-one matchups with and without pads. But the key will be how Tolbert’s play translates into game situations. OC Moore stressed the importance of learning all three receiver roles. "We'll try to get him to learn as many spots as possible,” Moore said. "We'll start him in a Z-type position, maybe play him in the slot. We'll get him moved all around the field. We like to do that with a number of our receivers." Veteran free agent James Washington was also supposed to help stabilize a receiving corps that lost 125 receptions and 17 touchdowns from last year’s group. Unfortunately, he broke his foot last week and will miss six-to-ten weeks recovering. With Michael Gallup also unlikely to suit up for Week 1 – as he recovers from last season’s ACL tear – the Cowboys are now thin at receiver. While the team may opt to bring in a free agent like Will Fuller or Cole Beasley, for now, Jerry Jones insists they’re fine at the position. “Washington’s injury doesn’t create an urgency for us to add a veteran receiver. We like these young guys,” said Jones. The "young guys" he refers to are the aforementioned Tolbert, T.J. Vasher, Simi Fehoko, and undrafted rookie Dennis Houston. Noah Brown isn’t a young guy (he was drafted in 2017) but looks to have a slight edge for the No. 3 spot in Washington’s absence.
Tight Ends
Dalton Schultz is playing on the one-year franchise tag designation after his agents and the team failed to lock in a long-term extension before the deadline. “I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say I was disappointed,” Schultz said. “We all came into this thinking we’d get a long-term deal done, and that’s something we pushed for. They were trying to push for it as well.” Despite the contractual standoff, Schultz is a full participant in camp and looks locked in as one of Prescott’s top targets. It should be Schultz and CeeDee Lamb as the focal points of the passing game, at least early in the season until Michael Gallup returns.
Kickers
The performances of Jonathan Garibay and Liram Hajrullahu probably aren’t giving the Cowboys much confidence. On July 30, Hajrullahu went 7-for-8, Garibay 4-for-8. On August 1, Garibay went 6-for-8 and Hajrullahu 7-for-8, but in hurry-up drills, Garibay missed both of his attempts. Hajrullahu made both of his. On August 2, Garibay went 6-for-8 and Hajrullahu 3-for-8. In an unplanned session of kicks on the same day from distance, Garibay went 0-for-3 and Hajrullahu, 1-for-3. On August 4, Garibay went 4-for-8, Hajrullahu 7-for-8. In the unplanned “mojo moment” section of practice, Garibay went 3-for-4, and Hajrullahu 3-for-3. Garibay is proving that he is not the answer, but Hajrullahu isn’t exactly proving that he is. The Cowboys will likely be in the market for another kicker unless this changes dramatically.
Defense
The Cowboys play two linebackers in Dan Quinn’s base formation, but with plans to use Micah Parsons all over the field this year, the front office added veteran Anthony Barr on a one-year deal last week. Barr is a four-time Pro Bowler and long-time starter for the Vikings and was looking to sign on with a Super Bowl contender. If healthy, expect Barr to quickly work his way into the defensive rotation. Second-year tackle Osa Odighizuwa is off to an impressive start in his quest to earn a starting role after an up-and-down rookie season. Veteran Anthony Brown, who fended off Kelvin Joseph last year for the starting role, was excellent in the early going, showing more consistency than his risk-taking teammate, Trevon Diggs.
