3 burning questions on offense the Cowboys must answer during training camp

The Dallas Cowboys offense will look a little different in 2023. They lost three starters this offseason and did very little to replace them.

Dallas released Ezekiel Elliott in March after the running back spent seven seasons with the team, and both Dalton Schultz and Connor McGovern walked in free agency. Schultz put up 2,000 receiving yards over the past three seasons, while McGovern started 15 games for the team in 2022.

To replace them, the Cowboys added former second-round pick Ronald Jones, selected Luke Schoonmaker in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and signed versatile lineman Chuma Edoga to a one-year deal.

Dallas didn't sign many outside free agents this offseason, especially after Elliott and Schultz left. They did, however, trade for Brandin Cooks, which gives the Cowboys a much-needed boost in the receiving game.

Still, the Cowboys need to answer many question marks on offense as the team heads into the Training Camp at the end of July.

Honorable Mention: Who wins the WR4 job between Semi Fehoko and Jalen Tolbert?

3. How will the offensive line shake out?

Just like last season, the Cowboys will enter training camp without a set offensive line in place. Tyler Smith eventually made his way to the starting unit as a rookie in 2022 when Tyron Smith suffered a torn hamstring during camp.

In 2023, the same situation on how Dallas will line up along the offensive line is brewing.

The best offensive line combination the Cowboys could put out against the Giants in Week 1 is Tyron Smith at left tackle, Tyler Smith at left guard, Tyler Biadasz at center, Zack Martin at right guard, and Terence Steele at right tackle. But will they start their best five?

Steele tore his ACL in Week 14 of last season, and his availability for Week 1 is in jeopardy. He didn't participated in any capacity during OTAs and minicamp and could also miss the start of training camp. That's not good news for Dallas.

With Steele and Martin missing time in minicamp, the Cowboys went with Tyler Smith (LT), Matt Farniok (LG), Biadasz (C), Josh Ball (RG), and Tyron Smith (RT). It appears Farnoik could start at LG in Week 1 if Steele isn't ready.

Dallas also drafted Asim Richards in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. But he will likely be in more of a reserved role in his first season if everyone stays healthy.

It'll be interesting to see how the Cowboys line up during training camp. Will Tyler Smith play left tackle, right tackle, or left guard (all three positions he played in his rookie season)? Where will Tyron Smith play? Will Steele be ready to start Week 1?

These are questions that need answers.

2. Where does Luke Schoonmaker fit in on offense?

Schultz's departure from the team this offseason opens the door for bigger roles for Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot. Ferguson was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and Hendershot signed as an undrafted free agent the same year.

Ferguson had 19 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns in his first season and his best game came when Schultz was inactive -- putting together a four-catch, 40-yard, and one-touchdown performance. Hendershot had three touchdowns in his rookie season, including a rushing touchdown on Thanksgiving.

Both players, especially Ferguson, should see an uptick in playing time in year two following solid rookie campaigns.

But where does Schoonmaker fit in on offense?

The second-round rookie out of Michigan has dealt with a foot injury this offseason and was seen wearing a walking boot during minicamp. As a result, he didn't participate much with the team. The boot is now off, though, and the rookie is expected to be ready for training camp.

Schoonmaker finished his college career with just 54 catches for 637 yards and seven touchdowns in three college seasons. But his stats don't tell the whole story since Michigan ran the ball more than almost every team in Division I (60.8% of the time).

Since Schoonmaker wasn't out there much for team activities, training camp will give us our first look at the Cowboys' new tight end room. Will Schoonmaker line up with the first team? Is Ferguson the team's starter in Week 1?

1. Who's RB2 behind Tony Pollard?

For the past couple of seasons, it was easy to predict how the Cowboys' backfield would shake out at the top. Elliott and Pollard would be the team's 1-2 punch and account for almost all of Dallas' touches in the run game.

But following Elliott's release this offseason, it has become the Cowboys' biggest offensive question mark heading into training camp.

Pollard is set in stone to finally become the lead back in Dallas. Last season, the Pro Bowler had 193 carries for 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns. He also added 39 catches for 371 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Who is his backup, though?

The Cowboys running back room consists of undrafted 2022 free agent Malik Davis, a veteran running back in Ronald Jones that had just 17 carries with the Chiefs last season, and sixth-round rookie DeuceVaughn. Undrafted fullback Hunter Luepke could also be an option.

In all seriousness, can the Cowboys really trust any of them to back up Pollard? Three of the four backs were day 3/undrafted pickups, and Jones hasn't done anything to be trustworthy over the past couple of seasons.

Training Camp will be a major indicator of which player wins the RB2 job in Dallas. All four players also have the opportunity to run away with the backup gig.

Vaughn is surely the most exciting player with a ton of speed, Jones has the most experience, Davis showed glimpses of his potential in his rookie season, and Luepke has the size (6-foot-1, 238 pounds) to be the team's goal-line/power back.

The Cowboys can also enter training camp and realize they need to add another experienced running back. So, they could re-sign a player like Elliott or sign a veteran like Leonard Fournette.

The battle to backup Pollard this season is certainly for the taking.'

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