![]() ![]() The hiccup in the Cowboys' defensive matrix comes by way of Quinn, who was slated for a Week 1 return from a fracture in his left hand - now suspended for the first two games of the 2019 season. Injury concerns on Jarwin and Schultz have now waned, and the trio of TEs is set in Dallas. The Cowboys carried three tight ends last season, but it was wholly unnecessary because Prescott remains as durable as a steel beam in a light breeze. Carrying just three tight ends allows for an added space elsewhere, and the club needs it. The decision to release tight end Rico Gathers was the correct one, with Witten back and both Jarwin and Schultz looking crisp in camp. The team is running light with five wideouts for now, using extra space to beef up OL depth, especially with rookie Connor McGovern headed to injured reserve. The bottom line is the Cowboys can excel with those they've chosen to keep around. Austin entered camp on the bubble by virtue of his own durability concerns and the addition of Pollard, but he's done well and the coaching staff will find every possible reason to not release him, especially when factoring in his positive and infectious locker room energy. Still eligible for a seat on the practice squad but also still not healthy, keeping him around for as a reservist (see below) makes sense. He landed on IR with a hamstring injury in 2018 - although he'd return in November - and started this camp on the physically unable to perform list. The team believes Brown can take the next step in 2019, but you wonder if his body will allow it. The problem was Johnson's drops in camp also showed up against the 49ers, and that opened the door for someone else to take the lead - notably Devin Smith, who impressed with the chances he's gotten from a poor-performing Mike White who operates behind a questionable backup O-line. From a wide receiver standpoint, the need for a turbo talent that can take the top off an opposing defense saw several players clawing for the chance at being that guy, and while guys like Reggie Davis and Jalen Guyton put on a show at times in camp, it's Johnson that was initially running away with it going into the preseason opener. The rest of the offensive setup is fairly straightforward, with a couple of exceptions. His decision in the next few days will ultimately impact how the RB depth chart looks a few days from now, but Darius Jackson and Jordan Chunn have already been shown the door. The asterisks next to Elliott's name are there for a reason. As of now, these are the 53 men the who will march into battle with every week for Dallas.īelow, we'll break down the roster on each side of the ball and special teams. Changes will be made in the next 24 hours, weeks, and months during the regular season. It's important to keep in mind that an NFL 53-man roster is fluid. The Cowboys have finalized the first version of their 53-man roster for Week 1 of the regular season. Looking at the linebacker unit, with veteran linebacker Sean Lee returning from yet another injury, do the Cowboys go heavy at that position as a means of planning for what appears to be the inevitability of his absence in 2019? With the team having now concluded its cutdowns, we have that answer and much more. The answer is rather obvious, because it took a teammate being suspended to help his chances of remaining on the roster, but Charlton is coming off a strong camp and a stellar dress rehearsal that led to owner Jerry Jones guaranteeing him a job. He rapidly became an afterthought thanks to rookie Donovan Wilson, and he also couldn't give the incumbent Jeff Heath a run for his money.Īdditionally, in looking at the defensive roster, just how fragile was the bubble beneath former first-round pick Taco Charlton? They went on to sign veteran George Iloka on a one-year deal, but Iloka didn't show much of anything in camp. The Cowboys wisely opted to not overpay Earl Thomas, and then passed on an oft-injured Eric Berry not long after. While newly-promoted offensive coordinator Kellen Moore attempts to piecemeal the running back production together, defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and passing game coordinator Kris Richard have their own issues to sort out.įor them, questions surrounding the safety position continue to be the prevailing concern going into the season. Although the expectation remains the two-time rushing champ will be in tow for the season opener when they host the rival New York Giants, the fact is there's at least a small possibility he won't - making for a shakeup on the depth chart until he arrives. With the preseason finally in the rearview, the Dallas Cowboys had more than their fair share of things to figure out, roster-wise.Īt the time this column goes to file, running back Ezekiel Elliott remains a holdout from training camp as he hammers out a new contract with the team's front office.
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