The Dallas Cowboys will finish the preseason against the New Orleans Saints on Friday night at AT&T Stadium, and for players on the edge of the roster, there may be no better or harder moment left to be seen. By Sunday evening, Dallas must set its 53-man roster.
That is why Saints Vs Cowboys is more than a preseason finale. It is the last chance for several players to turn a week of good tape into a place on the team, and Phil Mafah is among the names drawing attention after scoring a late-game touchdown against the Cardinals. Patrik Walker called the running back's path real, but said he still has to make it happen. For a player who was quiet in his first preseason outing, that kind of finish matters.
Sam Williams is in a different fight. He helped himself with a sack last week, but his roster case is tied to more than pass rush, because the addition of Von Miller means a spot in the outside linebacker room is already spoken for. Tommy Yarrish put it plainly: with Von Miller in the room, a roster spot is taken up. That leaves Williams needing strong special teams work to keep his name in the mix, and Friday night is one of the few chances left to show he can do that.
Other roster battles are still alive, too. Anthony Smith is competing with Camden Brown and Jonathan Mingo for fifth and sixth on the depth chart, while Jay Toia boosted his case with one of his best showings as a Cowboy against the Cardinals. Caelen Carson also has something to build on after being heavily penalized against the Seahawks in the preseason opener, then going without a penalty against the Cardinals. Ameer Speed, listed at 6-3, has been quiet early in camp but has continued to make plays, which is the kind of steady work that can matter most when the calendar turns fast.
The Cowboys do not need a perfect night against the Saints. They need answers. By the time Sunday evening arrives, the front office has to turn a crowded preseason into a hard roster line, and Friday is the final place where players can move that line in their direction.
