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By Jon Machota
Aug. 29, 2026 7:00 am CDT
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jerry Jones said at the beginning of training camp that the Dallas Cowboys were open to making a “substantive” move if one was available. Since that time, their only notable move was signing veteran edge rusher Von Miller. But they’ve also been very fortunate in the health department.
Does that mean that they are set with their final 53 being what they already have in the building?
Not necessarily.
“These could be some critical days here as we look at our roster, look at all the other rosters,” Jones said Friday night after Dallas’ final preseason game. “Right now, everybody around the league, the other 31 teams are seeing if they can improve it. We’ll be looking at that very, very aggressively. We’ve got time to improve for opening day.”
As the roster cuts become available on Sunday, it’s important to remember that the Cowboys will have an excellent chance at getting most of the players they want back on their practice squad. Over the last five years, only four players the Cowboys have cut have been claimed by another team the following day. Those players were OLB Isaiah Land (Colts) in 2023, CB Eric Scott (Chiefs) and S Julius Wood (Titans) in 2024 and OLB Tyrus Wheat (Lions) last year.
“I think as a coaching staff, these next 24 hours-plus, we do focus on our own roster,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said, “and our guys, the guys that we know, the guys that we love, the guys that we care about, the guys that I’ve gotten to know their families, that I’ve gotten to know what motivates them, why they play this game.
“The personnel guys and the scouts, they’re diving into potential other roster moves. And that’s part of the business. We’ve got some time, but we have to make sure we get the decisions right, which we will, about our roster first. Then, of course, we handle it the right way with the guys that we love and care about.”
Based on three preseason games and 15 training camp practices, including one with the Rams and one with the Saints, here is our final 53-man roster projection.
Quarterback (3)
Dak Prescott
Joe Milton
Sam Howell
This was only Prescott and Milton before Friday night’s preseason finale. Howell did enough to make me think the Cowboys will now go with three. Schottenheimer said the backup job is “neck and neck.” Jones said, “that’s one where we may just split the difference and have two backup quarterbacks.” Milton has had the overall better training camp and first two preseason games. But Howell has more experience and he was the better player Friday night.
Running back (4)
Javonte Williams
Malik Davis
Jaydon Blue
Hunter Luepke
This is a solid running back room but there would have to be some concerns if they were without Williams for an extended period of time. Davis and Blue are good complements but neither appear to be a lead back. Luepke gives Dallas help as a runner, blocker and receiver who can also play some tight end.
Tight end (3)
Jake Ferguson
Brevyn Spann-Ford
Luke Schoonmaker
Michael Trigg was a possibility with a strong training camp and preseason, but a toe injury limited him at times. He’d be an ideal candidate to get back on the practice squad. Many outside the building have wanted to get rid of Schoonmaker. Many on the inside feel differently. Schoonmaker was one of the 34 players not wearing pads Friday night, usually a sign the player has already made the roster. Ferguson and Spann-Ford should be a very good 1-2 punch.
Wide receiver (6)
CeeDee Lamb
George Pickens
Ryan Flournoy
KaVontae Turpin
Jonathan Mingo
Camden Brown
This is arguably the deepest wide receiver room in the NFL. They’d probably prefer to keep only five, but Brown and Mingo have played too well to cut either. Mingo was another notable player not wearing pads Friday. Lamb, Pickens and Flournoy have a chance to be the first trio of wide receivers to all go over 1,000 yards since Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston did it with the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. That team went to the Super Bowl.
Offensive line (10)
Tyler Smith, LG
Tyler Booker, RG
Cooper Beebe, C
Tyler Guyton, LT
Terence Steele, RT
T.J. Bass, G
Nick Leverett, G/C
Trevor Keegan, G
Nate Thomas, T
Drew Shelton, T
The depth hasn’t looked very good all training camp. The Cowboys have their starting five and then Bass as their top reserve. After that, it’s all up in the air. Thomas could be the swing tackle, but if there was an injury to Guyton or Steele, the next move could involve Smith moving out to tackle and Bass stepping in at left guard. Schottenheimer said Smith did not get any reps at left tackle during training camp because Guyton has “played as good of football as I’ve seen him play since he’s been a Dallas Cowboy.” This could be an area they keep only eight or nine and look to add a veteran or two for depth from another team.
Defensive line (5)
Quinnen Williams
Kenny Clark
Otito Ogbonnia
Jonathan Bullard
LT Overton
This is the best group of interior defensive linemen the Cowboys have had in a long time. Williams and Clark anchor everything, but the depth has a chance to be pretty good, too. They could possibly keep a sixth, but this five seems like the most likely scenario. Williams, Clark, Ogbonnia and Bullard all were without pads Friday on the sideline.
Outside linebacker (5)
Rashan Gary
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Von Miller
Malachi Lawrence
James Houston
The top four will see the bulk of the snaps as long as they’re healthy. Houston has proven that he can get to the passer. Marist Liufau was going to be the sixth because of the help he brings on special teams, but he suffered a fractured left forearm Friday night that will require surgery.
“Losing Marist as a football player is tough,” Schottenheimer said. “Unfortunately, it’s part of the business. You guys all know him and the way he’ll attack his rehab. So, we’ll get surgery done as soon as we can and next man up. But yeah, he was a critical, critical part of not just two or three special teams, really all four. He’s a four-core guy that you just rely on and he plays the game with violence. We have some other guys in that locker room that do that as well.”
Inside linebacker (5)
DeMarvion Overshown
Dee Winters
Jaishawn Barham
Shemar James
Justin Barron
This position group was the biggest question entering the draft. They then drafted Barham in the third round and traded for Winters. If all are healthy, this group could get the job done. But considering the Cowboys’ luck at keeping top off-the-ball linebackers healthy, this could still be an area another veteran is needed.
Cornerback (4)
Daron Bland
Shavon Revel
Cobie Durant
Devin Moore
Four is not enough. Another player probably needs to be added either by claiming off waivers from another team’s cuts or by making a trade. Signing a veteran like Adoree’ Jackson could also be a possibility. The top three have looked good in camp. There wasn’t enough consistency to say anyone definitively grabbed the No. 4 spot. It’s likely that multiple corners they cut will get back to their practice squad.
Safety (5)
Caleb Downs
Jalen Thompson
Malik Hooker
PJ Locke
Markquese Bell
Like with their interior defensive line, the Cowboys have made significant upgrades at safety. The top four have all shown that they can be counted on when the games matter. Downs will get a lot of work as the nickel cornerback, but he’ll also see plenty of reps at safety. This area has gone from what was one of Dallas’ biggest weaknesses to one of its greatest strengths.
Special teams (3)
Brandon Aubrey, K
Bryan Anger, P
Trent Sieg, LS
Not much projecting needed here. These are the only three at their positions. “I think I probably have the best group of specialists in the league,” Cowboys special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen said recently. “I’ve been fortunate. Same thing I felt last year with all three of them. It’s incredible. They’re really close, they’re really smart, and they’re pros. They do everything that makes it a lot easier for me.”
Aug. 29, 2026 7:00 am CDT
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jerry Jones said at the beginning of training camp that the Dallas Cowboys were open to making a “substantive” move if one was available. Since that time, their only notable move was signing veteran edge rusher Von Miller. But they’ve also been very fortunate in the health department.
Does that mean that they are set with their final 53 being what they already have in the building?
Not necessarily.
“These could be some critical days here as we look at our roster, look at all the other rosters,” Jones said Friday night after Dallas’ final preseason game. “Right now, everybody around the league, the other 31 teams are seeing if they can improve it. We’ll be looking at that very, very aggressively. We’ve got time to improve for opening day.”
As the roster cuts become available on Sunday, it’s important to remember that the Cowboys will have an excellent chance at getting most of the players they want back on their practice squad. Over the last five years, only four players the Cowboys have cut have been claimed by another team the following day. Those players were OLB Isaiah Land (Colts) in 2023, CB Eric Scott (Chiefs) and S Julius Wood (Titans) in 2024 and OLB Tyrus Wheat (Lions) last year.
“I think as a coaching staff, these next 24 hours-plus, we do focus on our own roster,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said, “and our guys, the guys that we know, the guys that we love, the guys that we care about, the guys that I’ve gotten to know their families, that I’ve gotten to know what motivates them, why they play this game.
“The personnel guys and the scouts, they’re diving into potential other roster moves. And that’s part of the business. We’ve got some time, but we have to make sure we get the decisions right, which we will, about our roster first. Then, of course, we handle it the right way with the guys that we love and care about.”
Based on three preseason games and 15 training camp practices, including one with the Rams and one with the Saints, here is our final 53-man roster projection.
Quarterback (3)
Dak Prescott
Joe Milton
Sam Howell
This was only Prescott and Milton before Friday night’s preseason finale. Howell did enough to make me think the Cowboys will now go with three. Schottenheimer said the backup job is “neck and neck.” Jones said, “that’s one where we may just split the difference and have two backup quarterbacks.” Milton has had the overall better training camp and first two preseason games. But Howell has more experience and he was the better player Friday night.
Running back (4)
Javonte Williams
Malik Davis
Jaydon Blue
Hunter Luepke
This is a solid running back room but there would have to be some concerns if they were without Williams for an extended period of time. Davis and Blue are good complements but neither appear to be a lead back. Luepke gives Dallas help as a runner, blocker and receiver who can also play some tight end.
Tight end (3)
Jake Ferguson
Brevyn Spann-Ford
Luke Schoonmaker
Michael Trigg was a possibility with a strong training camp and preseason, but a toe injury limited him at times. He’d be an ideal candidate to get back on the practice squad. Many outside the building have wanted to get rid of Schoonmaker. Many on the inside feel differently. Schoonmaker was one of the 34 players not wearing pads Friday night, usually a sign the player has already made the roster. Ferguson and Spann-Ford should be a very good 1-2 punch.
Wide receiver (6)
CeeDee Lamb
George Pickens
Ryan Flournoy
KaVontae Turpin
Jonathan Mingo
Camden Brown
This is arguably the deepest wide receiver room in the NFL. They’d probably prefer to keep only five, but Brown and Mingo have played too well to cut either. Mingo was another notable player not wearing pads Friday. Lamb, Pickens and Flournoy have a chance to be the first trio of wide receivers to all go over 1,000 yards since Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston did it with the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. That team went to the Super Bowl.
Offensive line (10)
Tyler Smith, LG
Tyler Booker, RG
Cooper Beebe, C
Tyler Guyton, LT
Terence Steele, RT
T.J. Bass, G
Nick Leverett, G/C
Trevor Keegan, G
Nate Thomas, T
Drew Shelton, T
The depth hasn’t looked very good all training camp. The Cowboys have their starting five and then Bass as their top reserve. After that, it’s all up in the air. Thomas could be the swing tackle, but if there was an injury to Guyton or Steele, the next move could involve Smith moving out to tackle and Bass stepping in at left guard. Schottenheimer said Smith did not get any reps at left tackle during training camp because Guyton has “played as good of football as I’ve seen him play since he’s been a Dallas Cowboy.” This could be an area they keep only eight or nine and look to add a veteran or two for depth from another team.
Defensive line (5)
Quinnen Williams
Kenny Clark
Otito Ogbonnia
Jonathan Bullard
LT Overton
This is the best group of interior defensive linemen the Cowboys have had in a long time. Williams and Clark anchor everything, but the depth has a chance to be pretty good, too. They could possibly keep a sixth, but this five seems like the most likely scenario. Williams, Clark, Ogbonnia and Bullard all were without pads Friday on the sideline.
Outside linebacker (5)
Rashan Gary
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Von Miller
Malachi Lawrence
James Houston
The top four will see the bulk of the snaps as long as they’re healthy. Houston has proven that he can get to the passer. Marist Liufau was going to be the sixth because of the help he brings on special teams, but he suffered a fractured left forearm Friday night that will require surgery.
“Losing Marist as a football player is tough,” Schottenheimer said. “Unfortunately, it’s part of the business. You guys all know him and the way he’ll attack his rehab. So, we’ll get surgery done as soon as we can and next man up. But yeah, he was a critical, critical part of not just two or three special teams, really all four. He’s a four-core guy that you just rely on and he plays the game with violence. We have some other guys in that locker room that do that as well.”
Inside linebacker (5)
DeMarvion Overshown
Dee Winters
Jaishawn Barham
Shemar James
Justin Barron
This position group was the biggest question entering the draft. They then drafted Barham in the third round and traded for Winters. If all are healthy, this group could get the job done. But considering the Cowboys’ luck at keeping top off-the-ball linebackers healthy, this could still be an area another veteran is needed.
Cornerback (4)
Daron Bland
Shavon Revel
Cobie Durant
Devin Moore
Four is not enough. Another player probably needs to be added either by claiming off waivers from another team’s cuts or by making a trade. Signing a veteran like Adoree’ Jackson could also be a possibility. The top three have looked good in camp. There wasn’t enough consistency to say anyone definitively grabbed the No. 4 spot. It’s likely that multiple corners they cut will get back to their practice squad.
Safety (5)
Caleb Downs
Jalen Thompson
Malik Hooker
PJ Locke
Markquese Bell
Like with their interior defensive line, the Cowboys have made significant upgrades at safety. The top four have all shown that they can be counted on when the games matter. Downs will get a lot of work as the nickel cornerback, but he’ll also see plenty of reps at safety. This area has gone from what was one of Dallas’ biggest weaknesses to one of its greatest strengths.
Special teams (3)
Brandon Aubrey, K
Bryan Anger, P
Trent Sieg, LS
Not much projecting needed here. These are the only three at their positions. “I think I probably have the best group of specialists in the league,” Cowboys special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen said recently. “I’ve been fortunate. Same thing I felt last year with all three of them. It’s incredible. They’re really close, they’re really smart, and they’re pros. They do everything that makes it a lot easier for me.”
