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3 Cowboys’ position battles heading into training camp

July 18, 2024
Dallas Cowboys v New York Giants
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Here are three position battles in training camp that could determine the depth chart heading into week one

The Cowboys head to Oxnard on July 25 to begin training camp that will last until August 21. It will be fun to see the rookies, familiar veterans like QB Dak Prescott, and even players returning from injury such as CB Trevon Diggs. However, the most exciting aspect of training camp is seeing tightly contested battles between two players looking to move up on the depth chart. Here are three matchups to keep an eye on.

The Battle for QB2: Cooper Rush vs Trey Lance

The Dallas Cowboys surprised fans last season when they traded a fourth-round pick for former third overall pick Trey Lance. The once highly-touted prospect has had an unfortunate start to his career, only starting four games in his first three seasons in the league. He was a backup throughout his rookie season, and in 2022 he suffered a season-ending injury which never gave him the opportunity to play a key role with the team. He didn’t play a single snap in the 2023 season.

This move was surprising because it didn’t feel necessary for the Cowboys. They have arguably a top-10 starting quarterback in Prescott and Cooper Rush has been a more than serviceable backup for the team.

Heading into the training camp, it will be interesting to keep an eye on Lance potentially overtaking Rush as the team’s backup QB. Earlier in May, head coach Mike McCarthy spoke strongly about Lance’s development in the Dallas system.

“He was on a learning curve but now he is starting to get the timing. He’s close to being a master of the system.”

Cooper Rush has proven that he can keep the ship steady in Dallas when thrust into the starting lineup. He’s 5-1 in his career as a starter. However, Rush is 30 years old and Lance is only 24. It could be wise to give Lance more of an opportunity to play and showcase his development and potential.

The Battle of the Jalens: Jalen Tolbert vs Jalen Brooks

When the Dallas Cowboys moved on from veteran wide receiver Michael Gallup this offseason, it opened up the WR3 spot on the depth chart. Many fans assumed the team would either prioritize bringing in a veteran free agent or drafting one early in the draft. The team did neither, and heading into training camp the current favorite to win the spot on the team is third-year WR Jalen Tolbert.

Despite being a third-round pick in the 2022 draft, Tolbert made little-to-no impact for the Cowboys in his rookie year. He played eight games for the team, starting just once. He had two receptions for twelve yards. However, Tolbert made vast improvements his sophomore season. He played all 17 regular season games, started six of them, and had 22 receptions for 268 yards and two touchdowns.

With that said, there is another Jalen in the wide receiver room who wants to make his case in training camp. Jalen Brooks is entering his second season, after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. Despite low expectations, he impressed in his first training camp, and made the final roster. He had six receptions on six targets for 64 yards in his rookie season and showed flashes of being a reliable receiver for Prescott.

In OTAs this offseason, Brooks took a significant amount of reps with the ones, potentially foreshadowing things to come

Battle for slot corner: Jourdan Lewis vs Caelen Carson

With CB Trevon Diggs returning from injury this season and CB Stephon Gilmore likely not returning to the team, it’s safe to assume both Diggs and Daron bland will be the team’s two outside corners heading into the 2024 season. However, the slot cornerback position could have competition. As of now, the favorite is veteran Jourdan Lewis. He is entering his eighth season with the team and had a knack for forcing takeaways throughout his career. With that said, the team brought in some competition this offseason when they drafted CB Caelen Carson out of Wake Forest with their fifth-round pick.

Carson shined at Wake Forest as an aggressive cornerback who plays physical with receivers in the passing game, but also isn’t afraid to get physical in the running game. He also stands at 6’0” tall and weighs in at 200 pounds, giving him a significant size advantage over Lewis.

While Lewis has had big plays for the Cowboys in the past, Carson provides a younger and cheaper option than Lewis and is looking to prove he can provide a bigger impact in week one.


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