FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys’ third preseason game will kick off Saturday night at AT&T Stadium and serve as a dress rehearsal for the club. While household names Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and DeMarcus Lawrence will not play in the exhibition clash, many of the Cowboys’ starters will suit up against the Houston Texans. As competition battles commence and players vie for a roster spot, here are notable keys to observe as Dallas welcomes their first opponent to their home turf in North Texas.
- Fans will receive additional clarity on Dan Quinn’s defense. Ahead of Friday’s practice at the Star, Mike McCarthy confirmed that the snap count for players on the offensive and defensive side of the football will vary. The defensive starters will play the first half, but younger plays on offense and substitutions will enter the game earlier.
“I think our defense will reflect more where you like to be in the third game,” McCarthy remarked. “You’ll see more of those guys go the whole first half…because of the injuries and the combination of players on offense, you’ll probably see the younger players on offense sooner.”
The game will not feature the defense’s finished product or act as a conclusive test on the unit but will be the most accurate depiction so far this offseason of Quinn’s revamped group that is causing hype.
- Wide receiver Amari Cooper will make his preseason debut. Cooper was recently activated off the PUP list and has been gradually progressing to a full route tree and rejoined the competitive portion of practice. The Alabama product had ankle surgery in January to remove “loose spurs” that limited flexibility. The surgery brought to light another issue- previous bone inflammation in his right foot. The swelling resulted in a longer-than-anticipated return as he prioritized rest and Vitamin D to heal the latter. Cooper is back and although he has not run a complex vertical route during the media portion of practice, he has looked fluid in-and-out of breaks on slants/crossers over the middle of the field. His workload will likely be limited to 10-12 snaps, but his return is a positive step forward.
“I think Amari has been right where we’ve hoped, and we’re ready to go with that group of receivers,” Kellen Moore told media.
- Mike McCarthy verified that he hopes to get Zack Martin, Tyron Smith and La’el Collins playing time for a short period during the preseason meeting. Collins has played in the previous two preseason games but left practice early on Wednesday with stiffness to his neck/shoulder area. The injury is of no concern, and he could suit up against Houston for limited snaps. The staff opted to monitor his status and evaluate Collins on Friday and Saturday to determine his availability.
