Todd Archer
FRISCO, Texas — To Brian Schottenheimer, it is nonetheless coaching camp with the Dallas Cowboys even with the staff again at The Star.
The Cowboys may have two night time practices this week earlier than taking part in the preseason finale in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons on Friday. After that, it is on to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The regular-season opener is Sept. 4 in opposition to the defending champion, and the Cowboys have loads of questions which have not likely been answered by way of the practices in Oxnard, California, and the primary two video games of the preseason, together with the 31-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
“I instructed the blokes, ‘Prepare, as a result of the couple of practices this week are going to be actually bodily,'” Schottenheimer stated after the Baltimore sport. “We've to. However it's like all these place battles, we do not have to determine something proper now.”
However they do not have a ton of time both. They want the solutions by Aug. 26 when the roster must be trimmed to 53 gamers.
“We're not pushing the panic button,” Schottenheimer stated. “We're pushing the work button.”
Here is a have a look at among the issues, not together with whether or not Professional Bowl edge rusher Micah Parsons will play to start out the season:
Backup quarterback
Dak Prescott has missed video games attributable to harm in 4 of the final 5 seasons. He missed 9 video games final 12 months with a hamstring avulsion that required surgical procedure. He turned 32 in July.
The Cowboys tried to signal Jacoby Brissett in free company and had discussions with a minimum of yet another veteran quarterback however in the end traded for Joe Milton III, who performed properly in his one regular-season look with the New England Patriots final season.
In two preseason video games, Milton has directed 17 full drives, and the Cowboys have one landing and 4 area objectives. He has been intercepted twice and one of many three sacks led to a security.
Schottenheimer stated he's not involved about Milton or the backup spot generally, with Will Grier because the No. 3 quarterback in the meanwhile.
“I feel we've got to consider that,” the coach stated. “I feel we do consider that.”
Final 12 months, the Cowboys had Cooper Rush and Trey Lance as their backups. The Cowboys intercepted Rush, now with the Ravens, twice, however he directed 5 scoring drives for Baltimore. Lance has accomplished 27 of 49 passes for 296 yards with two scores and has rushed 14 instances for 81 yards and a rating for the Los Angeles Chargers in three video games.
“I really feel like I haven't got to determine something right this moment,” Schottenheimer stated. “We'll maintain letting these guys apply.”
Defensive deal with
The Cowboys drafted Mazi Smith within the first spherical in 2023, and he has not had the impression that they had hoped. To be truthful, he's on his third system in three years.
“That is my third 12 months, the one people who must be anticipating something out of me is our fan base and the individuals within the constructing,” Smith stated final week in Oxnard. “In the event you ain't that, I ain't making an attempt to listen to it. And even lots of people on social media, I actually ain't making an attempt to listen to it.”
Smith's base salaries in 2025 and '26 ($1.95 million, $2.56 million) are totally assured, however might the Cowboys actually transfer on from him? Jay Toia, this 12 months's seventh-round decide, is the one different huge physique on the roster in the meanwhile.
Final 12 months, the Cowboys added veteran Linval Joseph late in the summertime. They could possibly be headed down an analogous path in on the lookout for a veteran out there as a free agent or on one other roster.
The Ravens ran it 39 instances for 148 yards and a landing. Within the first preseason sport. The Los Angeles Rams had 38 carries for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
Cornerback
If the Cowboys had been going to play solely their base protection, they might really feel snug sufficient with DaRon Bland and Kaiir Elam, however they may want extra than simply two corners.
Zion Childress has labored within the slot with the starters, however that is lots to anticipate of a rookie free agent. Bland has performed inside as properly, opening up probabilities for Troy Satisfaction, Andrew Sales space, who had a decide six in opposition to the Ravens, and Robert Rochell on the skin. Israel Mukuamu, who's coming into his fifth season and had an interception within the first preseason sport, can play nook and security.
Proprietor and basic supervisor Jerry Jones stated the Cowboys have their eyes open. A few names to contemplate: Kendall Fuller and Stephon Gilmore.
The tough half is the Cowboys anticipate Trevon Diggs (knee) again if not for the primary sport or two then perhaps by the tip of September. Shavon Revel is on an analogous monitor along with his restoration from knee surgical procedure, however it will be asking a variety of the third-round decide to play a big position early with out a lot apply.
“We have got some extraordinary assistance on the way in which,” Jones stated, including “relying on Diggs to actually be a participant for us.”
Left deal with
When Tyler Guyton went down with a knee harm on July 28, the Cowboys initially thought his season was over due to a torn ACL. As an alternative, he was identified with a damaged bone in his knee, and there's a probability he might be out there for the opener.
He has begun some mild on-field rehab work within the final week, however even when he is ready to play the season opener will probably be with none motion within the preseason and restricted work in pads in the course of the summer time.
Nate Thomas, a seventh-round decide a 12 months in the past, has carried out properly sufficient by way of two preseason video games as Guyton's substitute, however the Eagles' go rush is formidable, particularly at Lincoln Monetary Subject.
