The Dallas Cowboys will restart their push for a Super Bowl after months of thumb-twiddling in the offseason, and the first challenge laid out in front of them will be a preseason matchup against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks.
The Cowboys are unveiling a roster that has plenty of new additions to the mix, and the Seattle game will be the first time most fans get to see them outside of a practice setting. Dallas is expecting many of these fringe starters to contribute immediately when the results start mattering in the regular season.
The fanbase, as a collective, should keep an eye on these four players in the matchup against the Seahawks, as they could start to cement themselves as long-term contributors. The depth chart is by no means finalized, and the preseason could shake things up just a bit.
4 Dallas Cowboys players fans must watch in preseason debut vs. Seahawks
4. Jaydon Blue, RB
Blue is a former Texas standout who spent most of his rookie year on ice following his own struggles and the emergence of Javonte Williams.
A strong showing in the preseason could lead to him forcing some touches in the regular season, while a bad one could push him further down the depth chart and potentially off the 53-man roster. Blue lost a fumble in Tuesday's joint practice against the LA Rams, so he has a lot to prove over the next three weeks.
3. Jaishawn Barham, LB
Barham's unique style could be deployed in all sorts of interesting ways, and the preseason could offer a fleeting glimpse into how Dallas intends to use their third-round rookie in the regular season, provided that he's fully recovered from his groin injury.
One of training camp's biggest stars, Barham is emerging as a key cog in the linebacker room and a rotational blitzer in sub-packages. He'd reinforce those expectations with a strong showing against the Seahawks.
2. Nate Thomas, OT
Thrust into an open competition at left tackle, Guyton wasted no time pulling away from Thomas and rookie Drew Shelton. Guyton followed that up with a confident outing against the Rams, leaving Thomas destined for another year as his backup.
The Cowboys want to see more from Thomas before they give him more reps with the starting offense. If he holds his own in the preseason, he could end up as this season's swing tackle.
1. Malachi Lawrence, EDGE
Lawrence came into the league with questions about his ability to hold up against the run, and Week 1 against Seattle could be an excellent opportunity for him to show how much progress he has made in that area.
With his pass rush traits starting to come alive in Cowboys training camp, Lawrence is slowly starting to show what an impact player he can be as a rookie. The preseason will paint a clearer picture of what Cowboys fans should expect from the former UFC star in his rookie year.
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