5 Cowboys Already on Thin Ice in Week 1

Caelen Carson, CB

Another rookie the Cowboys are immediately throwing into the fire is fifth-round selection, Caelen Carson. One of the stars of the training camp and preseason, Carson is the starting cornerback opposite Trevon Diggs to start the season.

Dallas received the shocking news last week that their star ballhawk DaRon Bland would miss six to eight weeks with a foot injury. Instead of replacing him with a veteran free agent or on the trade market, the Cowboys showed how much they trust their rookie out of Wake Forest. Nicknamed "Seat Belt" due to his ability to lock wide receivers up, Carson is stepping into a massive role in Week 1.

If Carson struggles in his debut, Andrew Booth Jr. and veteran CJ Goodwin are next up. Booth was acquired this offseason in exchange for disappointing defender Nahshon Wright and has struggled so far in his NFL career. Goodwin, on the other hand, not only turned 34, but he also has been playing exclusively on special teams for the past couple of years.

This could mean that the Cowboys could look for external upgrades if Carson isn't giving them what they need. Let's hope that is not the case.

Dak Prescott, QB

Maybe "thin ice" isn't the right word here. Prescott is obviously not at risk of losing his job any time soon. The season has to go completely off the rails before that is a consideration.

However, the first couple of weeks of the season could determine Prescott's future with the organization. Despite the fact that Dak likely had his career season in 2023, finishing second in MVP voting, the Cowboys still haven't given him the contract extension that he desires. The latest reporting suggests that Jerry Jones isn't willing to give the 31-year-old the length of the contract he is looking for.

If Prescott is off to a slow start and the Cowboys aren't winning, that will make it even more difficult for Jones to give out the contract his star wants.

Dallas has a tough schedule for the first three weeks of the season. A 1-2 or worse start could officially put Dak on thin ice.

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