With roster spots tightening up and preseason reps carrying more weight by the day, the Cowboys’ meeting with the Arizona Cardinals gives a few players a real chance to make noise. For some, it’s about locking down a place on the depth chart.
For others, it’s about staying alive in the race altogether. Either way, this is the kind of game where every snap matters.
Camden Brown is the name that jumps out first. After turning heads in camp and following that up with a two-touchdown outing against the Seattle Seahawks in preseason Week 1, he’s suddenly looking like the favorite for Dallas’ fifth - and likely final - receiver spot.
Another strong night against Arizona could go a long way toward putting this one away. There’s even been chatter about him taking the No. 6 jersey, the same number Donovan Ezeiruaku is currently wearing with a different number.
Jaishawn Barham should also draw plenty of attention, mostly because the Cowboys are finally expected to get a look at him in game action. Dallas’ third-round pick this year missed time in camp with a groin injury and also sat out last week’s preseason game against Seattle.
He’s expected to make his Cowboys debut against the Cardinals, though his workload likely won’t go much beyond a dozen snaps. Even in limited action, it’ll be a chance to see the rookie after all the buzz around him in camp, especially with a possible starting job in play.
The offensive tackle picture remains one of the biggest concerns on the roster, and Nate Thomas sits right in the middle of it. He’s still the Cowboys’ swing tackle for now, but the pressure is on for him to show some improvement quickly.
If he can’t get back to his 2025 form, Dallas may need to look outside the building for help. Jerry Jones and Company could be shopping for another swing tackle before long if things don’t stabilize.
Marist Liufau is another player worth tracking closely. Though he’s new to the OLB role, he’s shown promise as a pass rusher coming off the edge.
He’s likely in a battle with Sam Williams for the six - and probably final - OLB spot after the addition of Von Miller, and he may have a slight edge. His ability to line up both off-ball and at outside linebacker, plus what he brings on special teams, gives the Cowboys more ways to use him.
Still, he’s got plenty left to prove.
Then there’s Israel Abanikanda, who has quietly been one of the more productive backs throughout camp and preseason. Even so, he remains a sleeper in the backup running back competition and a long shot to make the roster.
He’s still worth watching, though, especially after averaging 5.1 yards per carry last week against Seattle, second only to Malik Davis’ 5.6. With Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah both banged up, Abanikanda could see more work against Arizona and strengthen his case for a spot.
In Other News...
Cowboys Suddenly Have An Eagles Opening Worth Watching
Philadelphias pass rush plan has taken on a more uncertain feel as training camp drags on, and that is the kind of development Dallas will notice. The Eagles invested heavily in Jonathan Greenard, bringing him in via trade and backing it up with a sizable contract, so his availability matters far beyond one roster spot. What was once described as a non-long-term issue has become a lingering question, with Greenard still working his way back after a pec injury suffered in the weight room.
For the Cowboys, any hint of instability up front in Philadelphia is worth tracking because the Eagles have built around disrupting quarterbacks. Vic Fangios defense was counting on Greenard to be part of that pressure package, and the longer he remains sidelined, the more the Eagles have to adjust. The real concern now is not just when he returns, but whether the season opens with one of Philadelphias key additions already behind schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Crossed A Line In Practice And Schottenheimer Made It Clear
Joint practices are supposed to sharpen a team before the games matter, but the Cowboys and Saints spent too much of their latest session breaking up skirmishes instead of getting clean work done. One of the flash points came when linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku was ejected after throwing a punch, a moment that left Dallas offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer plainly frustrated with how the day unfolded.
Schottenheimer said the Cowboys need aggression with discipline, not the kind that turns a practice into a mess and robs both sides of productive reps. He also pointed back to Ezeiruaku's previous practice incident, making clear that the lesson has to sink in quickly for a team trying to use these joint sessions to get better, not to spend them watching tempers flare. [Read more 🡒]
Trevon Diggs Just Gave Cowboys Fans A Rival Reunion To Watch
Trevon Diggs is back on the market in a way Cowboys fans did not see coming, and the latest stop is giving this move some extra intrigue. After being waived by Dallas in December, the cornerback has signed with the Seattle Seahawks, a fresh chance for a player who has been trying to reestablish himself after injury-shortened seasons.
The reunion angle gets even more interesting because Stefon Diggs, his brother and now a Washington Commanders receiver, reposted the news and weighed in on the move. For Dallas fans, the storyline now stretches beyond the waiver wire and into familiar connections Trevon already has with Seattle coaches and players, setting up a new chapter that carries plenty of emotional and football stakes. [Read more 🡒]