The Cowboys are heading toward one of the trickiest parts of training camp: turning a strong roster into a final 53. And with Week 1 getting closer, a few names that looked safe not long ago are suddenly in the danger zone.
Joe Milton is one of them. He’s still fighting Sam Howell for the backup job behind Dak Prescott, but Dallas appears to lean toward Howell’s steadier profile instead of Milton’s bigger swing-for-the-fences upside. Milton could still get another look against the Cardinals in Saturday’s preseason game, though offensive coordinator Klayton Adams said the team hasn’t locked in a starter for that matchup.
“We've had discussions about it, we haven't made any definite decision about this weekend,” Adams said.
Adams also said Milton has handled camp the right way.
“I'd say just based on the way that he played, he definitely responded the right way,” Adams added. “I think Schotty said it after the game, but he looked under control, and to be honest with you, that's what we've seen most of camp.
“Just like any player, there's going to be a couple of up moments and down moments. What we've seen mostly from Joe has been growth and consistency.”
That battle matters because whoever wins the job would be one snap away from running one of the league’s best offenses if Prescott gets hurt. It could be a huge moment for either Howell or Milton - but it also leaves Milton vulnerable if Dallas decides the safer answer is the better one.
The edge-rusher group is another crowded spot, and that’s where K.J. Henry Williams has a real uphill climb. He’s already talking like a player who expects to prove people wrong under first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
“I like this game,” Williams said. “Like I said, this is where I started in this kind of scheme at Ole Miss.
I was very successful at that. And I feel like I’m gonna be very successful at this scheme.”
Williams also acknowledged the outside noise about his roster spot.
“I took all the reports, all the negative comments, everything,” Williams said. “And I took it in, and I looked at myself in the mirror.
Because you can’t get better unless you know what you’re doing wrong. So everything that I’ve seen, I try to fix.
Like even in my room, it’s written on the mirror.
“At the end of the day, I just took all the negatives and, you know, look myself in the mirror. Not blaming no one else and just work.
Just work, work, work. Put my head down and let my work speak for itself.”
The problem for Williams is simple: the room is loaded. With Von Miller in the mix, Dallas now has Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence, and James Houston ahead of him on the depth chart. That makes the possibility of the Cowboys keeping six players there a must for Williams - and even that may not be enough.
Caleb Downs’ arrival makes the numbers even tighter. It’s not just that he’s expected to slide into the starting lineup. Downs should also soak up a big chunk of snaps, which reduces the need for Dallas to carry more than five players at the position.
Jalen Thompson, Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, and Julius Wood are ahead of Bell, but he still has a path because of his versatility. The issue is that he’s trying to climb out of a tougher spot after his arrest earlier this year, and that could matter if the Cowboys are forced to make a close call on the bubble.
Bell said he’s still pushing to improve.
“Always room to improve,” Bell said. “Always room to get better.
I wouldn’t say I’ve peaked yet. So I want to keep going.”
He also pointed to the staff as a resource.
“They’re great coaches,” Bell said. “Especially on the back end.
They got great schemes. And they know the game.
It’s great to learn from them.”
With camp cuts approaching, Dallas has more good players than clean answers. That usually means a few surprises are coming.
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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 🡒]
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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 🡒]