Preseason opens the door for all kinds of roster races, and in Seattle on Saturday night, four Cowboys undrafted rookies used that stage to make their case. Dallas walked away with a win, but for these players, the real value was in how they showed up individually.
Camden Brown was the name everyone noticed first. The wide receiver finished with three catches for 62 yards and scored twice, and those touchdowns were the kind that grab attention fast.
One came through tight coverage, and another showed off his one-handed ability. For anyone already tracking training camp, this wasn’t a surprise breakout so much as the next step in a steady climb toward a roster push.
Michael Trigg did his part too, even if his night didn’t come with the same flash. The tight end led Dallas with four catches for 30 yards, and three of those grabs helped keep drives alive on the way to both Cowboys touchdowns.
He kept showing why he’s such an interesting piece in this competition: too athletic for linebackers, too big for defensive backs. His place near the bottom of the tight end depth chart has been a summer topic, and this game gave him another positive mark.
Kelvin Gilliam’s impact came in a quieter way, but it was still there. The defensive tackle led all Dallas tackles with three stops and flashed some disruption in the trenches.
The Cowboys’ final numbers at defensive tackle are still to be sorted out, but Gilliam is clearly in the mix for a possible last spot. Dallas may want one more player who can handle the prototypical 3-4 end role, and Gilliam’s size and power fit that job.
Jordan Hudson didn’t get the same spotlight as Brown, but he still found a way to stand out. The SMU product made a difficult catch in traffic in the middle of the field, showing strong hands and good awareness on a ball that had already moved past his line of sight. It was the kind of play that can matter for a player trying to hang around, whether that ends up being on the roster or at least the practice squad.
In Other News...
Von Miller Signing Had One Cowboys Legend Fired Up For A Reason
The Cowboys added another proven name to their pass rush by signing veteran edge rusher Von Miller to a one-year deal, a move that gives the defense a seasoned presence for obvious passing situations. At 37, Miller is no longer being asked to carry a weekly workload, but his track record and ability to help a young edge group make the signing a meaningful one for a team that has been looking for reliable help up front.
The reaction around the deal came quickly, and one familiar Cowboys figure was especially energized by what it meant. Millers history with DeMarcus Ware, including a Super Bowl run together, gives this move a little extra layer beyond the roster fit, and it also puts Miller on the doorstep of another notable place in the record book if he can still generate pressure the way Dallas believes he can. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Fringe Players Already Hurt Themselves In Dallas First Roster Battle
The Cowboys first preseason test did not do much to help the fringe part of the roster, and four players in particular left themselves with more work to do. DJ Rogers, Langston Patterson, Traeshon Holden and Caelen Carson all drew attention for the wrong reasons in Dallas opening roster battle, with the game film and player grades pointing to a rough start for a group trying to carve out a place on the 53-man roster.
Rogers and Holden both had moments that undercut any momentum they might have built, while Patterson and Carson were limited enough that they needed cleaner snaps than they got. In a camp where every rep matters, Dallas is already sorting through which backups can be trusted and which ones have dug an early hole, and the next few practices and preseason chances will tell the rest of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Von Miller Just Changed One Big Cowboys Depth Chart Question
The Cowboys have added another proven name to a defense that has already seen plenty of movement, signing Von Miller to bring even more veteran presence to a group that recently got a boost from the Quinnen Williams extension and other roster tweaks. Miller arrives with a rsum that includes eight Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl titles, giving Dallas a decorated edge presence for a unit that has been reshaping itself around established talent.
What makes the move especially interesting is how it clarifies one of the more important depth-chart questions up front. Miller is expected to fit into the Cowboys 3-4 defense as a situational pass rusher, which should let him complement the current outside linebackers rather than force a wholesale change in roles. The deal was finalized without the contract amount being disclosed, but the football fit is clear enough: Dallas is looking for impact snaps, experience and pressure in the moments that matter most. [Read more 🡒]