<\/p>\n
Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Joe Milton III (front) and Sam Howell (back) throw passes during a training camp practice on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.<\/p>\n
Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
ARLINGTON \u2014 The Cowboys kept 33 players out of uniform\u00a0Friday against the Saints<\/a>, meaning more than half of the team’s eventual 53-man roster had already been decided. Take away the three specialists who were in uniform and that meant 17 roster spots were up for grabs.\u00a0<\/p>\n Who did enough to make the team? Here’s our final roster projection before Sunday’s deadline.\u00a0<\/p>\n Quarterback (3)<\/p>\n Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Joe Milton III (10) and Sam Howell (16) high five during a training camp practice on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.<\/p>\n Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Dak Prescott, Joe Milton III, Sam Howell<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Briefly: The race for the backup quarterback was expected to be a tight one from the very beginning. It might be too close to call<\/a>, which is why we have the Cowboys keeping three quarterbacks. The one caveat to this projection: Howell is a vested veteran, so maybe they work out a deal to bring him back after they release him. But is that worth the risk in a league that’s always looking for reliable backup quarterbacks?<\/p>\n Running back (4)<\/p>\n Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Hunter Luepke<\/p>\n Notable cuts: Phil Mafah, Israel Abanikanda\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Briefly: Malik Davis was the big winner of training camp<\/a>. Ironically, it brought him back to the place he ended last season: as the team’s backup running back. The Cowboys sat Blue on Friday and gave a lot of carries to Mafah, making it seem like there’s an edge to the former there. Mafah would be a welcome practice squad addition.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wide receiver (6)<\/p>\n Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Camden Brown (6) celebrates a touchdown catch with wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (81) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Seattle.<\/p>\n Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, Camden Brown<\/p>\n Notable cuts: Anthony Smith, Marquez Valdes-Scantling<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Briefly: The Cowboys sat Mingo on Friday, likely sealing him as the winner of the fifth wide receiver race. But could they keep six receivers? Brown certainly made an argument for it this preseason<\/a>. He had another nice catch on Friday from Milton. Only three receivers have been claimed the last three years across the league on cutdown day, however. Could the Cowboys take the risk and try and sneak him back through waivers?<\/p>\n Tight end (3)<\/p>\n Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker<\/p>\n Notable cuts: Michael Trigg, D.J. Rogers<\/p>\n Briefly: Trigg showed some encouraging things this training camp. I think he’s someone they would like to develop if they can get him back on the practice squad. Rogers could, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Offensive line (9)<\/p>\n Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, T.J. Bass, Nate Thomas, Drew Shelton, Nick Leverett<\/p>\n Notable cuts: Trevor Keegan, Ajani Cornelius<\/p>\n Briefly: This is not an easy position to forecast. The top six offensive linemen are settled, if you include Bass. Outside of that, there are a lot of questions. Schottenheimer wanted to see Shelton and Thomas, working at both left tackle and right tackle this off-season, grow. It’s hard to say that they reached the proper growth level<\/a>. Leverett, Keegan and Cornelius could all make the team, but we give the nod to Leverett, who broke down the team before Friday’s game. This is a position that could welcome some outside additions. Cornelius could be a potential injured reserve player that the Cowboys bring back later.\u00a0<\/p>\n Interior defensive line (5)<\/p>\n Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Otito Ogbonnia, L.T. Overton, Jonathan Bullard<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Notable cuts: Jay Toia, Tommy Dunn, D.J. Withers<\/p>\n Briefly: We barely saw Bullard during training camp and in the preseason, but the veteran gets the final interior defensive line spot here. Toia and Dunn, in particular, played well in the final two preseason games. Both could warrant practice squad additions, as well as Withers.<\/p>\n Outside linebacker\/Edge (5)<\/p>\n Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sam Williams (54) celebrates a sack with Marist Liufau (35) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Phoenix.<\/p>\n Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, Von Miller, James Houston<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Notable cuts: Marist Liufau, Sam Williams, Tyrus Wheat<\/p>\n Briefly: We had Liufau making the team until he suffered a wrist injury that knocked him out of Friday’s game. If it’s bad enough, could he end up on injured reserve? That would open a spot for Houston, who’s in contention for a roster spot regardless. Williams played deep in the fourth quarter, likely signaling his release.\u00a0<\/p>\n Inside linebacker (5)<\/p>\n DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham, Shemar James, Curtis Robinson<\/p>\n Notable cuts: Justin Barron<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n