It's been a successful preseason for the Dallas Cowboys, as they have beaten the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals so far, with a chance to finish 3-0 if they beat the New Orleans Saints, but some of the guys have business to solve.
There have been some amazing plays this preseason from Camden Brown and Jonathan Mingo, and it's going to be a conversation about which two make the roster. That's more of a battle than anything else, but we have to break down the individual battles that players face.
Here are three players on the bubble who really need to prove themselves to make the 53-man cut in Week 3's game against the Saints.
1. Sam Williams
Sam Williams was the second-round pick in 2022, but it only turned out to be a second-rounder gone wrong. In four seasons, he's racked up 85 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. But there's a clear vision here with Christian Parker, and he may have already found his dream squad, excluding Williams. Pass rush specialist BT Jordan may be his last hope to do something here, but it may be a wrap as is.
For Williams, his spot may already be decided, but it's not all his fault. There are Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Von Miller and Malachi Lawrence above him.
According to the latest unofficial depth chart, Marist Liufau is neck and neck with him, and if that's the case, this may as well be a wrap. There's still one more game to decide his fate, though, and he will have to defy the odds already stacked against him.
There should be more opportunities for him on other teams if he gets cut, but the fact is he's running into too much competition right now.
2. Luke Schoonmaker
Speaking of second-round picks gone wrong, Luke Schoonmaker has fallen short. Brevyn Spann-Ford's run blocking was on notice last season, and he's only leapfrogged the former Michigan tight end this time around.
It's safe to say that Dallas has their RB1 in Javonte Williams, RB2 in Jaydon Blue and RB3 is looking like Malik Davis. Spann-Ford will be important in the run game, and even though he doesn't catch as many passes, he should see the field more than Schoonmaker.
But could the former Michigan TE end up as third string? It's possible, but if not, the Cowboys could go with just two tight ends, and everybody would probably be OK with that, considering the Cowboys could have six receivers make the cut.
3. Shiyazh Pete
Come on, people. You know we were all thinking about it.
Pete came in for only six snaps against the Cardinals, but made history as the first known member of the Navajo Nation to play in an NFL game. He had a whole section in an away crowd go wild for him, and for a while, it was more than just a game. He gave one of the most memorable speeches in a Cowboys locker room and had all of Cowboys Nation fired up.
"Fate brought us here as strangers, but this game, this star, this team will make us brothers," Pete said after the game.
Is there a chance he makes it as a third-string offensive lineman? If you don't know, take a look at what Brian Schottenheimer said afterwards. He called Pete the "hardest workers I've been around." As of now, the backups are T.J. Bass, Nate Thomas, Drew Shelton, Trevor Keegan and Nick Leverett.
If Keegan or Leverett gets cut, that's an opportunity right there. If the Cowboys go to 10 offensive linemen, Pete's chances go up.
He may or may not end up making the cut, but he's still got a lot of pride.
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