FRISCO, Texas — There’s just one sport left within the 2025 preseason, which suggests a final name for gamers on the 53-man roster bubble to make an impression. Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer will settle for last-minute standout efforts on Friday in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons
“We’re nonetheless within the information-gathering course of,” Schottenheimer stated Monday. “We’ll sit down after we play Friday and we’ll make some choices about your complete roster. There’ll most likely be some surprises from among the mock issues which might be on the market by way of, ‘Hey, I believed for certain this man was gonna make it.'”
On Wednesday, Schottenheimer stated the next about his 53-man roster imaginative and prescient: “We have not made any choices but. We have not named any starters.”
One participant on the Cowboys’ present roster who earned his spot in Dallas in a preseason finale is fullback Hunter Luepke. Luepke went undrafted out of North Dakota State in 2023, and he had simply 9 scrimmage yards on eight touches coming into the ultimate week of the 2023 preseason. He used the staff’s preseason finale vs. the Las Vegas Raiders, a 31-16 victory, as his private spotlight reel: Luepke racked up 118 yards from scrimmage (58 yards dashing and 60 yards receiving on 20 touches (15 carries and 5 receptions) and a landing (a 15-yard catch-and-run).
“We now have an thought going into the preseason finale guys who we’re excited to see. It is not, ‘OK, this man can do it.’ Some guys, they do leap off the movie, and … if you happen to play the best way Hunter did in that final preseason sport, you are like, ‘yeah, he is earned the suitable,”‘ Schottenheimer stated Wednesday. “Once more, the underside line is you need to earn the suitable. Like none of those spots are going to be given. We’re not giving a spot to a participant due to this or that. They must be earned, and I imagine that is the best way it ought to be.”
Properly, here is the newest Cowboys 53-man roster projection, or “mock factor” as Schottenheimer calls it, from yours really over right here at CBS Sports activities. The roster accounting under is not going to embody the next gamers whose present injured standing will doubtless stop them from starting the 12 months on the energetic roster: Large receiver Jonathan Mingo (knee), guard Robert Jones (neck), linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (knee), cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee), cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. (knee), cornerback Caelen Carson (knee) and cornerback Josh Butler (knee).
Quarterback (3)
Evaluation: That is fairly reduce and dry. Dallas traded a 2025 fifth-round choose to the New England Patriots in alternate for Milton and a 2025 seventh-round choose. Schottenheimer has gone out of his option to give Milton almost each snap all through the preseason to help in his improvement. Grier may be very acquainted within the system from his a number of stints in Dallas, and three-time Professional Bowl quarterback Prescott, the highest-paid quarterback within the NFL on a mean per 12 months foundation ($60 million), extremely values his friendship with Grier.
Working again (4)
Evaluation: The operating again place is likely one of the tougher positions to venture on Dallas’ roster due to how break up carries have been all through the preseason: seventh-round rookie Mafah (13 carries), veteran Davis (8 carries), veteran Sanders (7 carries) and veteran Vaughn (7 carries) have all had their probabilities. Explosive fifth-round rookie operating again Blue will doubtless have an opportunity to make a preseason impression Friday night time after coping with a bruised ankle/foot damage he suffered at coaching camp in Oxnard, California.
Cowboys vp of participant personnel Will McClay referred to Blue as “an explosive playmaker” on draft day, and he used the adjective “explosive” 5 instances when speaking about him. Blue will make the roster. Veteran free agent signee Williams can also be a lock, and he’ll doubtless start the 12 months because the starter on the place. Schottenheimer has held him out of the preseason fully, and he is repeatedly praised Williams all offseason. One other key level about Williams is he is run out with the first-team offense to begin each apply in organized staff actions, necessary minicamp and coaching camp.
Sanders doubtless ran himself out of a roster spot in Dallas’ second preseason sport in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens after sturdy showings in OTAs and necessary minicamp. He ran for 15 yards on seven carries with a yards-per-carry common of two.1, and he additionally harm the Cowboys’ offensive efforts in important conditions.
Large receiver (6)
Evaluation: Lamb is an All-Professional, and Pickens has been head and shoulders above each different non-Lamb huge receiver. That is why Lamb leans on his suggestions for recommendation. Turpin was the NFL’s 2024 first-team All-Professional kick returner, and Schottenheimer has used him way more within the passing sport and out of the backfield as a runner than former coach Mike McCarthy ever did. Tolbert led the depleted 2024 Cowboys in receiving touchdowns (seven), which can outweigh his meh offseason efficiency. Brooks has been a go-to downfield weapon with the second-team offense this offseason, and Flournoy is somebody Schottenheimer has regarded to function within the preseason passing sport.
Cropper had an unsightly drop on a deep ball from Milton within the preseason sport in opposition to the Ravens, and the play time the 2 undrafted rookies — Holden and Kelly — have acquired within the preseason is indicative of a decrease standing on the depth chart.
Tight finish (3)
Evaluation: Schottenheimer stated there could be some surprises in his first 53-man roster because the Cowboys coach, and here is certainly one of them: 2023 second-round choose Schoonmaker will get reduce. He is underwhelmed all through the offseason, and he suffered a concussion in Tuesday’s apply. There is a good probability he will not be rushed again for a preseason sport. Ferguson, who simply re-signed on a brand new deal in coaching camp, is not going anyplace. Spann-Ford has proven way more after-the-catch skill than Schoonmaker, and Schottenheimer appears to get pleasure from giving a pleasant helmet faucet to Fant firstly of virtually each apply open to the media. Schoonmaker will get proven the door.
Offensive line (9)
- Who makes the roster: Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, T.J. Bass, Brock Hoffman, Cooper Beebe, Terence Steele, Nathan Thomas, Hakeem Adeniji
- Who’s reduce: Asim Richards, Ajani Cornelius, La’el Collins, Saahdiq Charles, Nick Broeker, Geron Christian
Evaluation: There are not any surprises right here. Dallas has been cross-training Bass at middle for place versatility, and Adeniji doubtless will get the final spot over Richards due to the necessity for deal with depth over guard depth with Guyton coping with a knee damage.
Defensive position (10)
- Who makes the roster: Micah Parsons, Dante Fowler, Mazi Smith, Osa Odighizuwa, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams, James Houston, Solomon Thomas, Perrion Winfrey
- Who’s reduce: Payton Turner, Jay Toia, Earnest Brown IV, Denzel Daxon, Tommy Akingbesote, Tyrus Wheat
Evaluation: The defensive position place has probably the most gamers of any spot on the roster given the uncertainty round Parsons’ contract standing, and the shortage of productiveness on the defensive deal with spot subsequent to Odighizuwa. Smith, Dallas’ 2023 first-round choose, is aware of he is nearing the label of bust, however the Cowboys have solely moved on from a first-round choose earlier than the top of their rookie deal as soon as in latest reminiscence: 2017 first-round choose edge rusher Taco Charlton in 2020. Houston seems to have extra upside than Turner, and Winfrey has been probably the most constant contributor among the many youthful defensive tackles.
Linebacker (5)
Evaluation: That is additionally one of many best positions to determine. Sanborn has performed his total profession with new Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus when the 2 have been with the Chicago Bears from 2022 to 2024. Murray has been a starter on the first-team protection all offseason. Coaches have been effusive in reward of the efforts of each Liufau and Clark making strides this offseason. Rookie fifth-round choose James has additionally been a playmaker within the passing sport in apply as he is considerably recurrently come away with interceptions.
Cornerback (5)
Evaluation: Cornerback again has been probably the most injury-riddled place for the Cowboys this offseason with Diggs, Revel, Carson and Butler all on the shelf with knee accidents. Dallas permitting mainstay Jourdan Lewis to depart for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free company this offseason has opened a gaping gap on the nickel cornerback place. Corridor and undrafted rookie Childress have fought onerous at that beginning spot all offseason with every receiving some snaps with the first-team protection in apply.
Bland clearly has a spot, and Elam has had the most effective offseasons of any Cowboy this 12 months after being acquired in a commerce from the Buffalo Payments. Sales space’s choose six of former teammate and Ravens backup quarterback Cooper Rush final week could have helped seal his roster spot.
Security (5)
Evaluation: Hooker and Wilson have the beginning security spots locked down following sturdy offseason performances whereas the Cowboys have appreciated the event of depth items like Thomas, Bell and Mukuamu this offseason. Thomas has even stuffed in some snaps at nickel this offseason as has Mukuamu. This was additionally a simple place to venture.
Specialists (3)
Evaluation: Aubrey, Anger and Sieg are apparent, however Goodwin, Dallas’ second longest-tenured participant (seven seasons from 2018-2024), will get reduce from the preliminary, energetic 53-man roster. The Cowboys have too many evident depth wants at operating again, defensive deal with, cornerback and offensive line in 2025 to get away with initially rostering a 35-year-old particular groups solely participant. There is a good probability Goodwin will return to the Cowboys after some early roster churn.
