Final Practices Set Stage for 53-Man Roster
The Dallas Cowboys entered the final stretch of preseason evaluations this week with practices scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday at The Ford Center, a walkthrough Thursday, and the preseason finale Friday night against the New Orleans Saints. As reported by The Dallas Morning News, these sessions give head coach Brian Schottenheimer, his staff, and the front office their last extended looks at players competing for spots before the 53-man roster must be finalized at 5 p.m. Sunday. The practice squad, which can hold a maximum of 17 players, will be assembled afterward.
Schottenheimer underscored the unfinished nature of the process. “Yeah. I mean, we’re a long way from done,” he said, according to The Dallas Morning News. “I told the guys this morning when we talked to them, we’re still in training camp mode. We look forward to these next two days practicing in front of fans here at The Star. There’s a lot of tight battles, if you will, for certain spots and you guys get it. It’s a very competitive roster, 53 guys and practice squads. So, they need to maximize and they will these opportunities along with the game on Friday night.”
Decisions span several groups. The backup quarterback role behind Dak Prescott remains open between Sam Howell and Joe Milton, each of whom started a preseason game, with Milton having forged ahead heading into the Saints matchup, The Dallas Morning News reported. Questions also linger over the ideal number of receivers, offensive linemen, and safeties, as well as the identity of the swing tackle and whether certain cornerbacks or edge players will stick.
Running Back Room Emerges as Focal Point of Projected Shake-Up
One of the clearest points of contention centers on the running back position, where five players have emerged as candidates for the 53-man roster. Javonte Williams is the clear-cut starter, and Hunter Luepke is viewed as a valuable fullback who figures into the plans, according to both The Dallas Morning News and Heavy. That leaves competition for the remaining spots among 2025 draft picks Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, along with undrafted fifth-year veteran Malik Davis.
Heavy. reported that the pre-camp expectation of carrying four running backs has been complicated by Davis’s strong preseason showings. Davis started the first preseason game against Seattle and performed solidly again against Arizona. He has recorded 12 carries for 68 yards plus a receiving touchdown. Davis has bounced between the 53-man roster and the practice squad since joining the Cowboys in 2022 and is now positioned to make the active roster out of camp for the first time in his career, Heavy. noted.
Schottenheimer offered pointed praise for the veteran. “When you watch those guys compete, Malik — the guy is consistent. He’s a good football player. He’s good on offense. He’s good on special teams. He’s good in pass protection. He’s a good runner. He runs behind his pads. He makes positive yards. He has not been a surprise,” the coach said, as quoted by Heavy.
Multiple beat writers have projected that Davis’s emergence could come at Mafah’s expense. Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, as cited by Heavy., predicted Mafah would be the odd man out, with the Cowboys keeping Williams, Davis, Blue, and Luepke. Watkins wrote: “Phil Mafah has done nothing wrong here. Davis and Blue just played better in the preseason. Davis is also a personal protector on punts, so that gives him a slight edge. Israel Abanikanda is someone the Cowboys should keep for the practice squad.”
Adam Schultz of Cowboys Roundtable, also referenced by Heavy., wrote that Davis has usurped both Blue and Mafah, citing Blue’s 75 yards on 15 carries and Mafah’s 14-yard touchdown run. Jon Machota of The Athletic, according to Heavy., similarly projects Davis as the RB2 with Mafah headed for a cut. The Cowboys are not expected to keep more than four running backs, Heavy. reported, making the arithmetic difficult for the 2025 draft selection.
Broader Position Battles Across the Roster
Beyond the backfield, The Dallas Morning News detailed several other competitions that Schottenheimer and the staff are resolving this week. At wide receiver, undrafted rookie Camden Brown has emerged as a candidate for the fifth spot, while Jonathan Mingo’s strong performance against Arizona has opened the possibility of a sixth receiver or of Mingo pushing Brown off the roster.
On the offensive line, Nate Thomas and Drew Shelton appear headed for the 53-man roster, though the identity of the swing tackle remains an important unresolved question. Schottenheimer described both as “incredibly talented, but they need to continue to grow,” noting “very tactical things that both those guys are still learning,” according to The Dallas Morning News.
Defensively, Otito Ogbonnia, Quinnen Williams, and Kenny Clark are considered locks on the defensive line. Jonathan Bullard’s health issues have raised questions about his availability for Week 1 at the New York Giants. LT Overton recorded a sack in the second preseason game, while Jay Toia left a practice with an elbow injury on Aug. 20 but played through it and earned praise. Edge rushers Sam Williams and Marist Liufau are viewed as bubble players who received extensive snaps in the second preseason game. Williams signed a one-year contract with $1.4 million guaranteed; Liufau, a 2024 third-round pick, is entering a contract year. Markquese Bell is regarded as a trusted special-teams contributor rather than a true bubble player, similar to the role once filled by retired C.J. Goodwin, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Path to Final Decisions
With practices continuing and the Saints game still to come, Schottenheimer has framed the remaining days as an extension of training camp rather than a formality. The combination of on-field performance, special-teams value, and positional depth charts will determine which players survive the Sunday deadline. For Mafah and other bubble candidates, the next several days represent the final chance to alter the projections now circulating among those covering the team.
The Cowboys’ approach, as described across the reporting, remains evaluation-driven: no single practice or game is likely to override the full body of work, yet every remaining snap carries weight for players on the margins.