Last week's blowout win clearly didn't set the bar too high. Friday had the makings of a classic preseason snoozefest, but the Dallas Cowboys woke up in the second half and came back from a 24-9 fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game.
Brian Schottenheimer's squad put up a good fight, but they couldn't finish the preseason undefeated, as the New Orleans Saints kicked a go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter. The vibes won't get any better this weekend as Schotty and his staff have to inform 37 players they won't make the 53-man roster.
To that end, several position battles hit their climax Friday night. Here are the most roster-pertinent takeaways from the loss at AT&T Stadium
8 roster-specific takeaways from the Cowboys' preseason loss vs. the Saints
1. Jonathan Mingo will be on the 53
If anyone was having second thoughts about Mingo making the 53-man roster, the Cowboys cleared those up before kickoff. Rather surprisingly, Mingo was given the ballcap treatment; he was not in pads, along with several of Dallas' starters and key backups.
In other words, Mingo has made the team. That's hardly a revelation, as Mingo has had a great summer, parlaying a strong training camp into an even better preseason. In two games, he caught four of five targets for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Mingo has also stepped up on special teams. He had a highlight chase-down tackle on a punt return against the Seahawks and has even fielded some punts in the preseason. He's separated himself from Camden Brown in that regard and deserves his spot on the roster.
2. The QB2 battle can go either way
For the second week in a row, Milton drew the start under center. He played the entire first half, while Sam Howell played the third and fourth quarters, but Milton getting the start is a strong indicator that he has the upper hand over Howell to be Dak Prescott's backup.
The Cowboys' offense didn't produce fireworks like it did last weekend in Arizona, but Milton had another composed performance. He took what the Saints gave him and didn't put the ball in harm's way.
Milton overthrew tight end Mitch Van Vooren on a potential big-gainer but bounced back on the next play with a strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling to move the chains. It was an uneven night for the 26-year-old, but he certainly didn't do anything to lose the job.
Sam Howell, on the other hand, brought the fireworks. He needed just six pass attempts to surpass Milton in passing yards, and he completed a couple of gorgeous deep shots to Jordan Hudson to jolt an offense that was stuck in neutral for most of the night.
Howell willed the Cowboys back from a two-score deficit, throwing two touchdowns and running for a two-point conversion. Milton has had the better preseason overall, but this might be a neck-and-neck battle following Howell's performance.
3. Sam Williams is making the same mistakes in Year 5
Fans in Dallas are no strangers to watching Sam Williams break contain. It made an unwelcome return on the Saints' first touchdown of the game.
Cowboys announcer Isaiah Stanback called it out on the replay; the former second-round pick broke contain, allowing Barion Brown to gain a head of steam before finishing off a seven-yard touchdown run. He bit too deep into the backfield on the handoff, allowing Brown to escape past the outside shoulder of the defense.
Very few 53-man roster predictions have featured Williams, and this miscue is exactly why. He's now in Year 5 and still hasn't summoned the necessary discipline to set the edge. He fared better in the second half, but it probably wasn't enough to make the team.
Marist Liufau's wrist injury may open that door, though. More on that in a minute.
4. Jaishawn Barham is going to be up and down
We know, we're just as surprised. But it turns out the guy who fell to the third round of the draft isn't perfect. Who could have guessed? We'll all be OK.
Ironically, the biggest knock on Barham coming out of Michigan was his tendency to overpursue. And he played too fast for his own good against New Orleans. He had a bad fly-by missed tackle in open space and took himself out of a few other plays because he was overeager.
Barham has to learn to play more under control, and he will, but that will come with reps. Friday was prime teaching tape for the rookie. His role this season will still be massive, and a starting spot is still within reach, even if it doesn't happen right away.
Just don't forget about Dee Winters.
5. DT Tommy Dunn will be a priority practice squad addition
Cowboys fans might want to get familiar with Tommy Dunn. Arguably Dallas' best defensive tackle in the preseason, Dunn had another positive showing on Friday.
In the second quarter, the undrafted rookie blew up a handoff to Kendre Miller to set up a 3rd-and-9 that New Orleans ultimately did not convert.
The Cowboys will have three DTs on the field in base: Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Otito Ogbonnia. If they want a third backup behind Jonathan Bullard and LT Overton, who are expected to make the 53, Dunn has made a strong case to be that guy.
Assuming he comes up short, the former Jayhawk should be a priority addition to the practice squad. He's shown more than enough this month to justify Dallas keeping him around to develop.
6. Rough night for Michael Trigg
Returning from a toe injury that cost him a crucial week of practice, Trigg needed a vintage Jason Witten performance to make a last-minute push for a roster spot. Even then, it might not have been enough, but we'll never know because Trigg looked like an undrafted rookie.
At least two catchable passes hit Trigg in the hands and fell incomplete. A third was borderline, but too tough to definitively label a drop.
Barring a surprise, the Cowboys will carry three tight ends: Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and Luke Schoonmaker. Some will roll their eyes at Schoonmaker, but he's had a decent summer and blows Trigg out of the water as a blocker and on special teams.
Assuming he's not an IR stash, Trigg will most likely clear waivers and end up back in Dallas on the practice squad.
7. Marist Liufau's injury will loom large
Unlike Sam Williams, Liufau has found his way onto many 53-man projections, not because of his pass rush ability, but because he can also contribute as an off-ball linebacker -- where he played in his first three seasons -- and on special teams.
Unfortunately, Liufau suffered a wrist injury in the first half and did not return. He was initially listed as questionable to return before being ruled out in the third quarter.
Brian Schottenheimer announced after the game that Liufau fractured his forearm and will need surgery. He'll have surgery on Monday and miss "weeks," making him a candidate to go on injured reserve/designated to return.
This throws a wrench into Dallas' roster math. If Liufau is placed on IR, a door opens for bubble guys like Sam Williams, Tyrus Wheat, or Isaiah Land. It would also remove any lingering doubt for James Houston, securing his spot on the 53.
Liufau's health is now front and center as the Cowboys hammer out their 53-man roster.
8. Jaydon Blue (and Malik Davis) are safe
Unlike Jonathan Mingo, Davis and Blue were in pads, indicating they would get at least a little bit of work. However, they did not see the field. Phil Mafah and Israel Abanikanda handled every rep in the backfield.
If Dallas needed to see more from Jaydon Blue, he would’ve taken the field. Instead, Phil Mafah got heavy burn because the staff needed a longer evaluation, especially after he logged just a single snap against Arizona.
Many hoped to see Blue build on his strong Week 2 performance and seal up the RB3 spot, but as it turns out, that single outing was more than enough.
That may say more about Mafah than Blue, but regardless, the former Longhorn is trending toward opening the season as the third running back behind Javonte Williams and Malik Davis.
Add us as a preferred source on Google