That’s all folks! After a disappointing 26-19 loss in the preseason finale, the Dallas Cowboys finished their preseason with a 1-2 record. There’s no reason for concern as preseason doesn’t reflect the direction of the team but does offer a lot of insight such as roster decisions. The Cowboys have plenty of preparations as they cut their roster down to 53 men before Tuesday’s deadline.
There were positives and concerns to take away from each game and lots of insight regarding how the official team could look when they take the field in week one. Here’s what we learned from the Cowboys’ preseason outings.
Three Key Takeaways from the Dallas Cowboys Preseason
Life Without Dak Will Be Rough
Dak Prescott is entering the final year of his contract and is seeking top dollars in a new deal. After monitoring the quarterback situation through three games the front office should approach Prescott with a blank check. The Trey Lance/Prescott debate among Cowboys fans this offseason has been interesting. Some fans felt it would be in the team’s best interest to let Prescott walk after this season and start Lance. After Lance’s struggles in the preseason, it’s safe to say that’s not ideal if the Cowboys want to remain contenders.
Considering the starters didn’t play a snap, the offensive struggles could be taken with a grain of salt but the lack of firepower and efficiency was extremely noticeable. In their first game against the Los Angeles Rams, they only scored 12 points despite the defense forcing four turnovers they also went 0-3 in the red zone. In Saturday’s finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Cowboys lost despite dominating the time of possession, running 44 more plays, and tallying 250 more yards than the Chargers. Lance threw five interceptions in the loss and has given Cowboys fans a preview of how life after Prescott could look.
Prescott holds all the leverage regarding his contract and his price tag may have risen after the preseason performances. Cooper Rush has played well in his six starts but not well enough to hand him the keys to the offense. Lance has proven he’s not ready and still has a lot of development before he’s ready to take the next step in becoming a starting quarterback. Prescott knows rather it’s Dallas or anyone else he will eventually get his payday. It’s up to the Cowboys to be smart and lock him down before he becomes a free agent.
Zimmer Ball Will Be Elite
For the past three seasons, the Cowboys’ defense led by Dan Quinn was one of the best units in the NFL. They led the league in turnovers in 2021 and 2022 and were fifth in PPG in the last two seasons. Quinn took a head coaching job with the Washington Commanders and there was uncertainty on how the defense would look under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Considering how the preseason played out the defense will be fine under Zimmer.
The Cowboys’ defense gave up two explosive plays in the last preseason game but buckled down and held a shutout in the second half. Throughout the preseason they only allowed 15 PPG and forced six turnovers. Disregarding the pick-six against the Chargers, they held each of their three opponents to 20 points or less. Like the past three seasons, the defense will be a strong factor and a game-changing unit.
Cornerback Depth is Much-Needed
Ahead of the last preseason game news broke that Pro Bowl cornerback DaRon Bland will be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks with a stress fracture in his left foot. Bland could look to return in mid-October but his loss is a huge blow to the defense. Last season the Cowboys didn’t get the opportunity to have both their Pro-Bowl defensive backs on the field while Trevon Diggs missed 15 games with an ACL injury. Diggs is set to be ready by week one but now there’s a hole to replace with Bland being out.
Caelon Carson the fifth-round pick out of Wake Forest could be sprung into action early or Andrew Booth who they acquired in training camp could be a possibility but Jerry Jones seems to have given the nod to Carson. Jones was asked if he’ll add any cornerback depth because of Bland’s injury but he seems to trust their rookie cornerback. “Not in any way. No, not at all. The good news is we’ve got some guys that have really shown well in camp. We won’t be looking at all,” Jones said.
There’s nothing wrong with trusting your guys but injuries are unpredictable and the Cowboys should look to add more depth as insurance just in case another injury occurs. With names like Patrick Peterson, Xavien Howard, and Jalen Mills all being available it wouldn’t be a bad idea to sign on any of them. This will give the secondary additional healthy bodies that could also bring veteran leadership to the cornerback room.
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