Dallas City News

Football is finally here! Sure, it’s just preseason, but for some of us, the entrée served to us on Sunday will feed famished fans as we get our first look at the Dallas Cowboys in action. At 4:30 pm EST, the Cowboys will square off against the Los Angeles Rams in their first preseason game of the 2024 season. They have two more preseason games (Sat 8/17 against the Las Vegas Raiders and Sat 8/24 against the Los Angeles Chargers), allowing us to get a good look at many of the players that will make up this year’s roster. We won’t see much from the big-name players, but there will be plenty to watch as several players fight for a roster spot. Here is one player to watch at each of the offensive positions.

QB – Trey Lance #19

The news surrounding Trey Lance in training camp hasn’t been as positive as we hoped, but that’s okay. The guy is still learning. The excitement some had for this day may have faded a bit, but it’s still important to see some positive things from the Cowboys’ third-string quarterback. How quickly will he make his reads? Will he play skittish and take off running rather than standing tall in the pocket? And when he does throw the ball, how accurate will he be? After Sunday’s game, we’ll have a better feel for what the Cowboys coaching staff already knows when it comes to Lance.

RB – Malik Davis #34

Rico Dowdle looks like the Cowboys’ most elusive back in camp, but based on his injury history, there’s no reason to trot him out on the field on Sunday. And we know what the team has in Ezekiel Elliott, so snaps for him aren’t useful either. A couple of weeks ago, the performance of free agent signing Royce Freeman would make this list, but he’s a bit nicked up. Malik Davis is a forgotten back in Dallas, but is there any possibility that this third-year player can churn out some nice runs and keep him in the running to round out the team’s running back group?

WR – Tyron Billy-Johnson #13

The three Jalens will make the list for many fans, and for good reason. They’re young and full of promise. However, it is a 28-year-old veteran who could end up being the receiver who is most ready to help the team. Fans might remember that he impressed in preseason action last year, but another good showing could help him get closer to punching his ticket to making the roster. Who’s breaking out of their routes the best, executing their blocks effectively, and has the stickiest hands will go a long way in determining how the Cowboys wide receiver room looks in September.

TE – Luke Schoonmaker #86

Last year’s second-round pick was a huge disappointment, but hopefully, he turns a corner this season. Health has been a challenge for Schoonmaker, but if can roll out there and quietly make some good plays, this could be an indicator that he’s ready to take that next step. Note, it won’t just be about what he does in the receiver game as the Cowboys drafted him for his blocking ability, so keep that in mind. But speaking of passing ability, if John Stephens Jr. is healthy enough to see some good action, keep an eye on 81 as well.

OT – Tyler Guyton #60

This will be the player that fans will be drawn to the most as we watch how well the Cowboys’ top draft pick performs. Expect both good and bad and he’s still a raw player. Popping out of his stance quickly, good use of his hands, and avoiding holding penalties will be huge for the rookie. If some of the things he’s done in camp trickle over into the game, that’s a real positive sign.

OG – Josh Ball #75

The fan club for Josh Ball is small, but he’s still a part of this team. A hip injury in the final preseason game foiled what was a decent camp for him, and now time is running out for him. Ball is in the last year of his rookie deal and faces an offensive line group with many bodies. While his chances of making the team seem slim, Ball has the strength to move bodies. A good showing in preseason action could put him in the conversation about what linemen the Cowboys choose to keep.

OC – Cooper Beebe #56

Brock Hoffman is the team’s starting center, but how long will that last? Surprisingly, Hoffman’s been doing well so don’t expect him to roll over anytime soon. However, before that’s even in question, Cooper Beebe must fix his ball-snapping issues. Snap accuracy and a smooth transition from snapping to blocking are critical and seeing some positive steps in those departments would be very pleasing to the eye.

Who will you be watching in this game?