4 things to look for during the Cowboys’ first preseason game
So far this summer, the Dallas Cowboys have dominated the airwaves for all the wrong reasons. The team and Micah Parsons appear to be in a contractual stalemate that has been highly publicized, culminating in Parsons requesting a trade from the team, with team owner Jerry Jones being steadfast in his desire not to trade away the All-Pro defender. Furthermore, injuries have taken a toll on the team in Oxnard, testing their depth and forcing them to sign players to the roster as a means to have healthy enough bodies to make it through practice. With all the drama surrounding the team, one could almost forget that they have a game to play on Saturday.
With a short three-game slate of preseason games, the Cowboys have to use that scarce opportunity to answer several big questions on their roster. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer has a lot to assess before the final cuts as he examines the secondary and down roster players on the depth chart and beyond. Despite this week’s game being “meaningless” in the long run, there’ll be a lot to digest in the team’s first preseason game of 2025. Here are 4 things to look for against the Los Angeles Rams.
Bazooka Joe
By now, we have less optimism regarding the sustained health of Dak Prescott. Prescott hasn’t played a full season since 2019 and missed the final nine games of 2024 with a hamstring injury. Having a suitable insurance policy is imperative for the Cowboys. Behind Prescott are Joe Milton and Will Grier. The former is one of the biggest arms you’ll see in the NFL and has left many in amazement at training camp with how effortlessly he drives the football down the field.
Cowboys quarterback coach Steve Shimko spoke glowingly of Milton’s progress over the summer:
“He’s great fundamentally, his feet are getting better every day as well, but his biggest jump (has been) taking every practice rep like it’s a game, like he could really get hit,” Shimko said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic.
“That ball’s coming out, he’s finding completions, he’s really running the offense. Instead of just trying to show off his arm, which we all know he has one of the best arms in the world, he’s now playing quarterback.”
Milton also has excellent athleticism to extend plays and find his receivers down the field once a play breaks down. How much he plays will speak volumes about how ready the team thinks he is to back up Prescott.
Sorting out the running back rotation
Heading into this season, running back is largely a mystery for the Cowboys. While the Cowboys didn’t invest premium resources at the position, they certainly added multiple options, with at least a running back by committee approach, and at best, hoping the cream will rise to the top. So far, rookie Jaydon Blue has looked really good, showing off his speed and fluidity through the holes, but sustained a bone bruise injury Thursday, and it’s unlikely he’ll play Saturday.
That leaves more snaps for Javonte Williams, Phil Mafah, and Deuce Vaughn and possibly Hunter Luepke. Vaughn returned to practice yesterday and needs to have a strong showing to keep himself in the mix for making the team. Let’s see how that unfolds.
Position Flex in the secondary
The Cowboys have sustained a lot of injuries at cornerback this summer, and it couldn’t come at a worse time since the Cowboys need to evaluate the position, specifically who will play in the slot. Dallas has tinkered with Juanyeh Thomas playing slot as well as his safety duties, but how about behind him?
Undrafted free agent Zion Childress can play multiple positions in the secondary and should have an opportunity to show his skills for an extended look on Saturday. He’s made some plays at training camp, especially one play where he made a one-handed interception, showing great range and instincts in coverage. He’s a player who plays passing lanes well and is likely to flash in different spots against the Rams.
Israel Mukuamu has always been a wild card, and the Cowboys haven’t found a place to put him. The fifth-year pro has an opportunity to carve out a niche for himself if he can play well Saturday and the subsequent games. Also, Kaiir Elam has had a nice training camp after being acquired via trade from the Buffalo Bills. Elam should get plenty of chances to show us if his talents can translate from the practice fields to the game at SoFi Stadium.
Stopping the run
It’s long been documented that the Cowboys have struggled to stop the run over the last few years. Team COO Stephen Jones also expressed his concerns about the defensive tackle position, and his angst is warranted. Slowing down the team’s opposing runner has continually been an Achilles heel for the team. While Mazi Smith has been the symbol for the team’s struggles in that department, it’s not reasonable to thrust the responsibility of improving in that aspect solely on him, despite being a first-round pick.
The Cowboys as a whole needed to fortify the defensive tackle position and make amends to a long-standing issue. Dallas added Solomon Thomas in the offseason to supplement the position, and also drafted two defensive tackles in Tommy Akingbesote and Jay Toia. Dallas also added Perrion Winfrey, who has had a strong camp, along with Denzel Daxon in the rotation. When many other NFL fans would be passively watching the later stages of the game, the defensive tackle position should keep a select few of fans glued to the screen in attempting to sort out who stands out among one of Dallas’ most troublesome areas.
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