The Cowboys are barely into August, but Saturday night in Arizona already feels like a sorting-out game for a few offensive players trying to keep their roster hopes alive.
Dallas heads to face the Cardinals for its second preseason matchup after opening with an encouraging showing against the Seattle Seahawks. And with the 53-man roster picture starting to sharpen, this is the kind of game that can move a player from the edge of the bubble to a much safer spot. For three Cowboys on offense, the stakes are especially clear.
Jaydon Blue may have the most to gain - and the most to lose. The young running back entered camp looking to build on a rookie season in which he played in just five games and make a push to lock down the RB2 job in Oxnard.
Instead, the early returns have been uneven. Blue has flashed at times, but consistency has been a problem, and the ball-security issues that have dogged him before have shown up again.
That showed in the preseason opener against Seattle. Blue handled the most carries among Dallas running backs, but the production wasn’t there.
He finished with 19 yards on eight carries, a 2.4-yard average. Then came another setback: a shoulder injury that kept him out of Tuesday’s scrimmage against the New Orleans Saints.
His status for Saturday is still uncertain, but if he does suit up, the pressure will be heavy. Time is running short for Blue to prove he can be trusted in the RB2 role, and a strong night in Arizona would be a good place to start.
Joe Milton is in a different spot, but the spotlight is just as bright. His first preseason action was exactly what Dallas wanted to see: 12 completions on 15 attempts, 107 passing yards, and a touchdown. It was a sharp debut for the 26-year-old, and now the Cowboys have not yet said who will start against Arizona.
The backup quarterback battle matters, and Milton’s case is straightforward. Sam Howell brings more NFL starting experience, but Milton offers more upside.
Dallas needs a viable answer behind Dak Prescott, especially with Prescott’s advanced age, and Milton’s arm talent and athletic ability give him a ceiling Howell can’t match. At the same time, there’s more volatility there too.
If Milton puts together another productive outing against the Cardinals, he could start to pull away in the competition for QB2.
Jonathan Mingo is also trying to turn one decent performance into something more lasting. Like Blue, he came into camp with plenty to prove, and like Blue, he has not exactly had a Cowboys tenure filled with bright moments. But his showing against Seattle gave him a little momentum.
Mingo caught two passes for 20 yards, and he also turned in an impressive effort on special teams. That matters for a player fighting to make the final 53.
If he sticks, that kind of versatility could be a major reason why. For maybe the first time since arriving in Dallas, Mingo has a real chance to build on a solid performance and keep pushing his case for a roster 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 🡒]