CANTON, Ohio — Not exactly the most exhilarating performance on the turf but nonetheless, football has returned. The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 16-3 in the NFL’s opening preseason Hall of Fame game.
Despite three turnovers, several missed kicks from Hunter Niswander, a struggling offensive line against Pittsburgh’s five-man rush, and an inability to capitalize inside the red zone, there were notable bright spots for Dallas. The preseason provides an opportunity annually for young players and rotational depth options to step up and make a mark. Several players for the Cowboys turned heads on Thursday night. Here are some standouts for Dallas:
Micah Parsons
The Cowboys’ first-round draft pick was as good as advertised. Regarded for his burst through gaps and dynamic downhill ability out of Penn State, he did not disappoint. Throughout training camp, Parsons has consistently been around the football making splash plays and he continued the trend against the Steelers. He made several critical tackles around the line of scrimmage and recovered a fumble on the first series of his first NFL performance. In the first quarter in back-to-back plays, he stopped Najee Harris dead in his tracks for a one-yard gain on second down, then blitzed up the middle on third down. Parsons’ speed was on full display and No. 11 made an immediate impact.
In describing his NFL debut, Parsons stated “It felt good. It was bittersweet that I didn’t get to play a lot. I felt like it was a good experience to get my feet wet. And get a feel for the game. I made some mistakes; there were some good things. I am just going to build off of it.”
Rico Dowdle
Rico Dowdle was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cowboys following the 2020 NFL Draft. He made the final roster as the third string running back behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Dowdle has continued to show flashes and he turned heads in Canton. With effective cuts and quick acceleration through holes, No. 34 came ready to dazzle. In addition, he showcased his willingness to block and set up several big plays in the passing game. He ran with power and will be a player to watch throughout the preseason for the Cowboys. Dowdle led the team in rushing with 43 yards on 8 carries, and a 5.4 average-per-carry.
Nahshon Wright
The Cowboys’ 2021 third-round draft pick looked solid in Dan Quinn’s defense. He used his 6’4 frame to out-leverage receivers. Nahshon Wright looked impressive in coverage and flashed the physicality that Quinn covets. In going through the adjustment and acclimation to the speed of the NFL, he had some lapses at times as expected, but overall, he matched receivers stride-for-stride. Wright blanketed wideouts on multiple occasions that stalled drives for the Steelers. He continues to impress in the Cowboys’ secondary, and if he keeps it up, he may wind up starting Week 1 opposite Trevon Diggs. He tied with Jabril Cox for the most tackles on the team with five.
Garrett Gilbert/Cooper Rush
Dak Prescott did not make the cross-country trip to Canton in continuation of his rehab process following a shouler strain. Garrett Gilbert and Cooper Rush shared snaps in the first half under center. Despite constant harassment in the pocket, both looked confident and delivered several accurate darts downfield. Gilbert finished the game completing nine of 13 attempts for 104 yards, and no interceptions for a 93.1 quarterback rating. He took two sacks for a loss of 10 yards, which one could have been avoided with a quicker release.
Rush got the ball out quick and evaded pressure, concluding the night 8-of-13 for 70 yards, and no interceptions for a 75.8 QBR. Not the grandest display of athleticism or arm-strength but from what media has seen in practice in Oxnard, these two performed well given the poor protection.
Seth McKeon
Like Dowdle, Seth McKeon was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an UDFA after the 2020 NFL Draft and the staff kept him as the club’s fourth tight end. He became the third after Blake Jarwin tore his ACL in Week 1. With Jarwin slowly being worked back into the mix throughout the offseason, McKeon has received increased snaps and has taken advantage. He shined on Thursday night with stellar yards-after-catch ability. In the first quarter, McKeon broke a tackle and fought for additional yardage to gain a first down. He moved the chains and put the Cowboys in prime field position. McKeon looked sharp on the gridiron and has been an underrated player on the team’s roster. Not anymore after the Hall of Fame game.
