Before the Dallas Cowboys lock horns with the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason this weekend, the two teams took the field in Oxnard for a joint practice on Tuesday.
There is only so much you can learn from a joint practice. Brian Schottenheimer's play-calling was very surface-level, and the teams were instructed to ease up when making contact. With that said, there were several standout performers and subtle clues revealed by the coaching staff.
One nugget that may have gotten swept under the rug is that wide receiver Jalen Brooks was the Cowboys' starting gunner with the punt team alongside veteran C.J. Goodwin, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
While you can't confirm anything before the first preseason game, this is the strongest indicator yet that Brooks will be the final receiver on the 53-man roster.
It sounds like Jalen Brooks is in great shape to make the Cowboys' 53-man roster
It sure seems like the Cowboys have five roster locks at WR: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo. They only kept five wideouts last year, but it is the deepest position group on the roster next to defensive end, and special teams carries significant weight as far as determining the final spots.
There has been a lot of buzz following undrafted rookie Traeshon Holden, who has stood out in Oxnard more than any other unheralded WR in recent memory.
While Holden is catching touchdowns seemingly every practice, making a few splash plays here and there is not enough to supplant a core special teamer. The same can be said for Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Cropper.
And for all of the hype that Holden has generated, it was Brooks who stood out the most as a pass-catcher in Tuesday's joint practice. The 2023 seventh-round pick hauled in a 65-yard touchdown from Joe Milton, showing excellent ball-tracking as he dove to secure the catch in the end zone.
A lot can change between now and the first week of September, but Brooks is currently in pole position to make this roster. Whether it be to do injuries at cornerback or simply outperforming Dallas' other WRs on special teams, he seems locked in as a starting gunner.
Those guys generally end up on the 53-man roster.