![Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) and teammate cornerback Kelvin Joseph (1) run down the sidelines after Bland intercepted a third quarter pass by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16). The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Dallas Cowboys at TIAA Bank Field Sunday, December 18, 2022. The Jaguars trailed 21 to 7 at the half but came back to win 40 to 34 with a pick six by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) in overtime. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 121822 Bs Jaguars Vs C 47](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/e4a646120799a3673ae5367f09b2f8e70fff52c85e10ca15f9781657840f94f0.jpg "Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) and teammate cornerback Kelvin Joseph (1) run down the sidelines after Bland intercepted a third quarter pass by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16). The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Dallas Cowboys at TIAA Bank Field Sunday, December 18, 2022. The Jaguars trailed 21 to 7 at the half but came back to win 40 to 34 with a pick six by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) in overtime. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 121822 Bs Jaguars Vs C 47")
1. Kelvin Joseph, CB
No one ever wants to see a player hurt but the truth is, injuries often open the door for young players to succeed. That’s how Dak Prescott was able to take the starting job as a rookie as he started in Week 1 when Tony Romo and Kellen Moore were injured — and he never lost the job from there.
For Kelvin Joseph, he had that chance when Anthony Brown joined Jourdan Lewis on the injured reserve. With both out, Joseph moved into a starting role but the second-year cornerback from Kentucky proved to be quite the disappointment.
He struggled mightily in coverage with his worst performance coming in a Week 15 loss to Jacksonville. In this one, the Jags came back from a 27-10 deficit to shock Dallas and Joseph was guilty of giving up two touchdowns in that second-half meltdown.
Marvin Jones Jr. now, Zay Jones before. Cowboys CB Kelvin Joseph indeed unable to, well, keep up with the Joneses.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 18, 2022
Cowboys lead just 27-24 with 1:23 to play in Q3.pic.twitter.com/oeSt54Fryz
With Stephon Gilmore set to wear the star on his helmet, Joseph finds himself sliding down the depth chart. Throw in the fact that Jourdan Lewis is still under contract and healthy as well as the presence of DaRon Bland, who had five picks as a rookie, and things aren’t looking good for Joseph.
It’s not time for them to move on from him but this training camp is going to be huge for him as he tries to get his NFL career back on track.
3 Cowboys headed for bigger roles in 2023 after first wave of free agency
With the first wave of free agency now past us, we look at the Dallas Cowboys roster and identify three young players headed for larger roles in 2023.