With the Hall of Fame Game in the rear-view mirror, the focus for the Dallas Cowboys shifts towards the Los Angeles Rams. The Cowboys will travel to face the Rams for the first time since their preseason game last year. That game was the first professional football game in Los Angeles since the mid-1990s. The game served as the first glimpse of America’s Team’s future at quarterback; Dak Prescott. Over a year later, Prescott is the face of the franchise, and will play limited snaps against the Rams.
Although Prescott and the starters will be limited, the game is a big opportunity for guys toward the bottom of the offensive depth chart. At running back, Rod Smith will look to grab a leg up on the 3rd string running back job over veteran Alfred Morris. At wide receiver, Andy Jones and Noah Brown will look to push Brice Butler for a spot on the final 53-man roster. Rico Gathers will look to build off an impressive preseason showing against the Arizona Cardinals. The team will also look for added depth at offensive line behind their established starters.
On defense, the team will be looking for growth from their deep class of rookie defenders. At defensive line, Taco Charlton, Joey Ivie, and Jordan Carrell will see many snaps against the Rams. They will be joined by second-year players like Charles Tapper, who is looking to become a key role player. Another second-year player to watch is Jaylon Smith, arguably the story of the offseason for the team. Smith notably suffered a gruesome injury in his last collegiate game. After a lengthy rehab, Smith appeared in uniform against the Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game. After not appearing in the game, Smith will look to take the field for his first live game at the NFL level.
At cornerback, the team will be watching their impressive class of rookie defenders. Chidobe Awuzie nearly snagged his first NFL interception last week, and will look to capitalize on his opportunities this week. Fellow draft picks Jourdan Lewis and Marquez White will play heavy snaps behind established players like Orlando Scandrick, Nolan Carroll, and Anthony Brown.
At safety, Xavier Woods will look to establish himself behind presumed starting safety Jeff Heath. Although Heath is the favorite, a strong preseason showing can help Woods push Heath for the starting job across from Byron Jones.
Dallas Cowboys Take:
Although the team’s “noteworthy” players will be watching from the sidelines, there are still storylines to follow in the Cowboys’ next preseason game. Keep following Dallas Sports Fanatic as we keep you up to date on all the latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys.
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