The Cowboys’ preseason trip to Arizona comes with a late kickoff and a few jobs on the line.
Dallas and the Cardinals are set for a 10:00 pm ET start in Week 2, the latest game on the schedule. That makes it a late one for everyone involved, but there’s still plenty to keep an eye on even with the starters not expected to play.
The real intrigue is tied to the roster race. Dallas is still sorting out its first 53-man group, and three veterans head into this game with real pressure hanging over them.
Terence Steele is the most senior member of the Cowboys’ offensive line, but he may also be the most vulnerable. He accepted a paycut this offseason to stay in Dallas, yet his play hasn’t taken a step forward. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently called him out for his inconsistency, and that only adds to the tension around his spot.
The Cowboys reworked Steele’s deal instead of cutting him because they didn’t believe they had a ready-made replacement at the time. That could change quickly if someone forces the issue. Nate Thomas and Drew Shelton are the two names worth watching in that mix, and if either one shows meaningful progress this weekend, Steele’s grip on the job could get a lot tighter.
At linebacker, Dee Winters arrived in a draft-day trade with the San Francisco 49ers and was immediately slotted in as the starter. He hasn’t done anything to lose that status, either. Winters has been steady throughout training camp, but rookie Jaishawn Barham has made this a lot more interesting.
Barham said he wanted to take somebody’s job when he got to camp, and Winters looks like the most obvious target. Barham missed the first preseason game, but he’ll make his debut Saturday night. If he carries over what he’s shown in practice, he could force his way into the Week 1 conversation.
Then there’s Malik Hooker, the longest-tenured and most experienced player in the Dallas secondary. He’s also been one of the more underappreciated pieces on a defense that once treated the safety spot like a revolving door. Still, he enters 2026 with some uncertainty around him.
New defensive coordinator Christian Parker wants versatility in his safety group, and Dallas has added three new faces in Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, and P.J. Locke.
Parker has prior experience with Locke, while Thompson has ties to Dallas secondary coach Ryan Smith, who was on staff with the Cardinals the past three seasons with Thompson. Downs has no direct connection to the staff, but as the No. 11 overall pick, he brings star potential.
That lack of staff history matters, and it’s part of why Hooker has been a player to monitor this offseason. His spot hasn’t been a major question, but Julius Wood could change that if he keeps stacking strong performances.
Wood stood out in the preseason Week 1 win over the Seahawks and has also made his mark on special teams. If he earns a roster spot, Hooker’s future could suddenly be in danger.
In Other News...
Cowboys Preseason Clash Took A Scary Turn After One Violent Hit
A preseason game can turn fast, and for the Cardinals it did when safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson went down after a collision with tight end Zack Kuntz against the Cowboys. The hit drew an unnecessary roughness flag, and Taylor-Demerson had to leave early with a rib injury, turning an otherwise routine August evaluation into a much more sobering scene.
For Dallas, the play was a reminder of how quickly exhibition reps can shift from competition to concern. Arizona is still waiting on further medical updates, and until those come in, the focus will remain on Taylor-Demersons recovery rather than the snap count or the final score. [Read more 🡒]
CeeDee Lamb Returns To Dallas With One Troubling Off-Field Issue
CeeDee Lamb is heading back to Dallas at a time when football should be the only thing on his mind, but the trip comes with a personal headache that has lingered for weeks. While the Cowboys were in training camp in Oxnard, Lambs home in Fairview was burglarized on July 30, and more than $300,000 worth of belongings were taken, including four luxury bags.
Nearly a month later, no suspects have been identified, and the return to Dallas will give Lamb his first chance to get back inside the home since the break-in. For a player whose role on the field remains central to the Cowboys season, it is another reminder that some of the hardest issues do not show up on the practice field. [Read more 🡒]
Von Millers Cowboys Debut Is Already Raising One Big Question
Von Miller is already giving the Cowboys a glimpse of what they hoped to get when they brought in the Super Bowl MVP and eight-time Pro Bowler, even if the early returns are coming in a carefully managed dose. He has worked through limited practice reps in training camp, and defensive coordinator Christian Parker has been quick to point to Millers professionalism and the presence he brings to the defense.
The bigger question now is less about whether Miller fits and more about how the Cowboys will handle him in the short term. Dallas does not plan to play him in the upcoming preseason game, choosing instead to keep the focus on getting him ready for the regular season, which leaves the timing of his full debut as the next thing to watch. [Read more 🡒]