The Dallas Cowboys open the 2022 NFL regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 11 at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys don't have any big-name decisions to make, but they will have plenty of choices regarding roster gymnastics based on players' health and roles. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones said wide receiver Michael Gallup will open the season on the 53-man roster even if he doesn't play the first two weeks because of his knee injury. In order for wide receiver James Washington, out at least the first six weeks because of foot surgery, to be eligible to play later in the season, he needs to be on the active roster for a day.
On defense, they appear to have too many pieces who can make the roster, especially along the defensive line, which could lead to some low-level trades for conditional draft picks or maybe a veteran offensive tackle.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Dak Prescott, Will Grier
Grier takes the job from Cooper Rush to be Prescott's backup, but Rush could be brought back to the practice squad because he has a good influence in the quarterback room.
RUNNING BACK (3): Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Malik Davis
It came down to Davis or Rico Dowdle. Why Davis? There's no good reason other than he's younger and his contract is just a little bit cheaper. He has performed solidly on special teams, but coaches tend to lean toward veterans in these situations, so don't count out Dowdle.
WIDE RECEIVER (8): CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Jalen Tolbert, Noah Brown, Simi Fehoko, KaVontae Turpin, Dennis Houston, James Washington
Eight? Hear me out. It's more like six. Gallup is recovering from a torn left ACL and won't play in the opener, but he might be ready for Week 3, so why keep him on the physically unable to perform list where he would miss four games? Washington is out because of a broken foot but in order to return this season, he needs to spend a day on the active roster. There are a lot of questions remaining with this group.
TIGHT END (3): Dalton Schultz, Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot.
Schultz might catch 100 passes this year given the construction of the passing game. Ferguson has played well in the preseason and looks to be the No. 2 tight end. Hendershot gets the No. 3 job in part because Sean McKeon (knee) is hurt, but the Cowboys like his upside.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Zack Martin, Terence Steele, Connor McGovern, Josh Ball, Matt Farniok, Matt Waletzko
Tyron Smith's hamstring injury that will keep him out until December is a major blow, but for him to be eligible to return to the field later in the season, he has to be on the roster for a day. Tyler Smith could be the tackle of the present instead of the future. Ball and Waletzko are the swing tackle candidates with Aviante Collins, but the Cowboys could look for outside help, too.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): DeMarcus Lawrence, Neville Gallimore, Quinton Bohanna, Dorance Armstrong, Chauncey Golston, Osa Odighizuwa, Sam Williams, Dante Fowler Jr., John Ridgeway, Trysten Hill
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will be able to play a deep rotation up front, and this doesn't even count Micah Parsons. Toughest omission: Carlos Watkins, who started 14 games a season ago, and we went with Ridgeway as the backup nose tackle.
LINEBACKER (5): Micah Parsons, Leighton Vander Esch, Anthony Barr, Jabril Cox, Luke Gifford
This group is set, although Devin Harper could get into the mix with his speed and special teams ability. But again, coaches trust experience, so Gifford gets the nod.
CORNERBACK (6): Trevon Diggs, Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, DaRon Bland, Kelvin Joseph, Nahshon Wright
Lewis' hamstring strain is a little concerning, although the Cowboys believe he will be ready for Week 1. If not, then do they move Brown to the slot and Bland outside? Bland has performed better this summer than Joseph, last year's second-round pick.
SAFETY (5): Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, Markquese Bell, Israel Mukuamu
This might be the deepest group of safeties the Cowboys have had in years. Remember, their base defense will essentially have three safeties, with Kearse as a hybrid linebacker. Bell can also play that role. Mukuamu has improved a lot heading into his second season.
SPECIALIST (2): P Bryan Anger, LS Jake McQuaide
No kicker? Remember this isn't the final 53, it is the first 53. The Cowboys can have "wink-wink, nod-nod" deals with Brett Maher and coverage ace C.J. Goodwin once they make the moves on players going to injured reserve.