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Dallas Cowboys season opening 53-man roster prediction

By Adithya Prabakaran

Dak Prescott, Quarterback Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dak Prescott, Quarterback Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 29, 2021; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during training camp at the River Ridge playing fields at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Oxnard, California. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2021; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during training camp at the River Ridge playing fields at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Oxnard, California. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports /

Running Backs (3)

Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Nick Ralston

Nothing has changed regarding Ezekiel Elliott or Tony Pollard’s status on this team. If anything the recent restructuring of Elliott’s contract sends the message that the front office likes where he is right now and going forward in a Cowboys uniform.

Last year’s third-string running back Rico Dowdle was recently placed on injured reserve and is out for the season. Even otherwise, he was sparingly used on offense instead of featuring far more on special teams. (44 percent) Now the team has a wide-open spot for RB3 and I do believe the team is entertaining the possibility of not having one.

The organization is pretty set on Elliott being the lead running back with Pollard being used in a complementary fashion. That would force the third running back to play predominantly special teams. The team might as well wait until after final roster cuts to grab someone from a practice squad to help out on special teams. Using up a spot for someone right now makes very little sense with how much depth is currently on the defensive side of the ball.

In my last prediction, I had the Cowboys keeping fullback Sewo Olonilua on the roster, but shortly after the prediction got published it was announced the TCU product would end up on the injured reserve. While it was an unfortunate blow for the team, fan-favorite Nick Ralston has been given more opportunities to play and is currently thriving. The Rajun Cajun is the team’s swiss army knife being used on special teams and offense.

Mike McCarthy offenses in the past have utilized fullbacks with players like John Kuhn, Aaron Ripkowski, and Danny Vitale. Ralston could easily be the next great fullback in a Mike McCarthy offense providing the team with different options for personnel groupings and unwavering intensity.

With the team only carrying two true running backs, keeping Ralston on the team doesn’t feel like a waste of a roster spot. If anything, his ability to do anything at his size makes him a valuable roster commodity.

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