Cowboys studs and duds from preseason Week 1 vs. Broncos

Stud: Ben DiNucci, Quarterback

The offense was a complete disaster early in the game and that gave Ben DiNucci an opportunity to be a spark plug for them. DiNucci entered the game in the third quarter and started his first drive from the Dallas three-yard line.

He showed no fear as he threw a 40-yard completion to Brandon Smith to give them some breathing room. That drive should have ended in the first points of the night had it not been for penalties and a missed kick from Lirim Hajrullahu.

DiNucci did lead them to points on the next drive, going 95 yards on 18 plays, capping things off with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Simi Fehoko.

He finished with 112 yards passing and 13 yards rushing while also showing the ability to escape constant pressure. He wasn’t perfect but he looked better than expected and kept the team from being shut out.

Dud: Kelvin Joseph, Cornerback

The Broncos’ first touchdown of the game was a one-yard pass from Johnson to Seth Williams, and it was 2021 second-round pick Kelvin Joseph who was unable to stop the reception. Joseph is a player Dallas was high on but the fact that he struggled to go one-on-one with a sixth-round pick from the same draft is worrisome.

Joseph also had an error to end the first half when he lined up offside on a field goal attempt from Brandon McManus. The veteran kicker missed from 57-yards out but then got to try again thanks to Joseph, and this time, he knocked it in from 52-yards to put Denver up 17-0.