3 Cowboys whose stock is plummeting after Week 2 preseason win over Raiders

The Dallas Cowboys were back in action for week two of the preseason in Las Vegas taking on the Raiders. In a game that featured more excitement than Week 1, the Cowboys picked up their first win of the preseason 27-12. Mike Zimmer's defense once again produced turnovers and the offense scored their first touchdown of the preseason.

Winning even in the preseason, is a good feeling for coaches knowing their young players have more confidence moving forward. However, with the good comes the bad in preseason because of the young talent teams are always evaluating.

Criticism was harder to come by from this game based on how much better Trey Lance commanded the offense and how well the defense played for the second week in a row. Still, some players may be fighting even more for roster spots heading into the final week of training camp. These players are seeing their stock fall after week two of the preseason.

3 Cowboys with plummeting stock after Week 2 of preseason

RB Snoop Conner

Snoop Conner once again received some playing time as the Cowboys continue to evaluate their running back situation. Conner mostly played in the fourth quarter as Dallas looked to ice the game up 20-12 at the time. He finished with five carries for 15 yards but once again did not have any splash plays.

In fact, for the second game in a row, Lance led the team in rushing. He also had a bad drop in the flat with no one covering him. Fortunately, his error did not slow down the offense too much as Lance ran in for a score a few plays later. Coming off just a 10-yard performance last week, Conner was looking to do more to plead his case for a roster spot.

Conner was drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round in 2022 but was waived after the 2023 preseason. After Jacksonville did not re-sign him, Dallas signed him to a future contract. Conner is one of the low men on the depth chart next to rookie Nathaniel Peat.

With Deuce Vaughn also having a solid night in Vegas and now healthy, Conner's days as a Cowboys could be numbered. He will more than likely see more snaps in week three, but he will still likely be splitting carries again with Peat and Malik Davis. With a crowded running back room, Conner's stock is continuing to fall as the team determines who will be part of this running back by committee approach.

CB Josh DeBerry

The Cowboys' defense once again got a big boost from their corners. This time it was in the form of a pick-six for Kemon Hall that helped Dallas build on a lead they would not relinquish. It was his night not Josh DeBerry's. DeBerry did not see a lot of the field in Week 1, but played most of the second half. The undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M is a longshot to make the team and Saturday night did not help his cause.

He finished with only three tackles but missed some as well. One miss was an attempt where he went low and the receiver ran right through him to get the first down. The Raiders only scored one touchdown the whole game, but it came on a drive where DeBerry misfired a few times on tackles.

He also committed a bad pass interference penalty on the next possession but fortunately, Hall's interception return for a touchdown made up for his mistake. Still, an undrafted free agent only gets so many reps and DeBerry cannot afford to make those mistakes if he wants to make this team.

WR Jalen Cropper

The Cowboys and Raiders each had one turnover, a far different story than what transpired in Los Angeles last week for Zimmer's defense. While Dallas took care of the ball offensively, special teams committed the team's only turnover.

That happened early in the second quarter when Jalen Cropper fumbled the ball while trying to return a punt. In a game as tight as it was at that time, mistakes like that even in preseason can be costly. The turnover led to a Raiders field goal that gave them a 6-3 lead.

While the Dallas offense got going shortly after with a touchdown drive, Cropper's fumble was a significant step backward from his Week 1 outing. Last week he actually finished third on the team in receiving with 26 yards on four catches including one where he had to reach back for the ball. Aside from his fumble, Cropper was only targeted once against the Raiders.

Cropper was an undrafted free agent who fought his way onto the team last year, but after a performance like that, he could have a tough time making this team again. With his stock falling after week two, he will have to show up more in preseason game three.