FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys open the 2023 NFL regular season at the New York Giants on Sept. 10 at MetLife Stadium.
The Cowboys believe they have a roster to contend for a Super Bowl, especially defensively, but they have questions that will be answered only when the real games begin. How will coach Mike McCarthy's tweaked offense fare? Can the defense improve on last season? What will rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey do under pressure?
Offensive line depth is an issue, especially given Tyron Smith's injury history and questions on the interior. There will be some roster manipulation where they release a veteran or two and re-sign them the next day. Plus, the final roster on Tuesday might not be what the final roster looks like the week of the opener -- which Friday's trade to acquire San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance proved how fluid things can be.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection for the Cowboys:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Trey Lance
The trade for Lance changed things for this group. They were only going to keep two quarterbacks but now go with three. Prescott, who turned 30 at the start of training camp, looks to be adapting well to McCarthy's playcalling style but will go into the season without any live action. Rush is 5-1 as a starter the last two years and is dependable as a No. 2. Lance will have to learn a new offense before there's any real thought of him getting on the field.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn.
Dowdle has done more to earn the No. 2 job behind Pollard. Vaughn has opened eyes with his work. He is undersized (5-foot-5), but that has not been an issue in practices or the preseason games. The goal is to sneak Malik Davis onto the practice squad and have him be on the game-day roster Week 1 anyway. Veteran Ronald Jones is suspended the first two games, so the Cowboys have time to worry about a roster spot -- if needed -- for him.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5): CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin
Lamb, Gallup and Cooks give the Cowboys a top trio. Tolbert has improved greatly over his rookie season. Turpin's return ability gets him the last spot. Seventh-round pick Jalen Brooks is the most impacted by the Lance trade because it looked like he was going to make the team. The hope is sneak him through waivers and on to the practice squad.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, Sean McKeon, Peyton Hendershot
The knee injury suffered by undrafted free agent John Stephens Jr. eliminated a possible issue for the Cowboys because he was playing his way onto the roster. Schoonmaker is starting to come on after opening camp on the non-football injury list. Prescott believes Ferguson is ready to be a bona fide playmaker. McKeon can do a lot -- fullback, every tight end role, core special teamer -- that he earns a spot.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Zack Martin, Terence Steele, Chuma Edoga, T.J. Bass, Matt Waletzko, Asim Richards
The depth is a question, but it's an issue for 31 other teams. The thought of finding a more useful lineman off waivers in the final cuts seems rather hopeful. Can they make a trade for a backup center? Bass gets a shot over Josh Ball for a guard spot. Richards can play guard and tackle. Waletzko has a shoulder issue, but he has had some good moments. Edoga has been out with a knee injury, but he is the only backup lineman with real experience.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): DeMarcus Lawrence, Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith, Dorance Armstrong, Johnathan Hankins, Dante Fowler Jr., Neville Gallimore, Sam Williams, Chauncey Golston, Junior Fehoko
They might have 12 defensive linemen worthy of a roster spot, which could mean some trades are possible. Nose tackle Quinton Bohanna just ran into a numbers problem. They have pass-rushers and run stoppers and players who can do both. Smith needs to show more than he has in the preseason, but Hankins gives them some cover for the first-round pick to develop.
LINEBACKERS (4): Micah Parsons, Leighton Vander Esch, Damone Clark, Devin Harper.
Yes, Parsons is still listed as a linebacker, but he's mostly an edge player. Vander Esch has had an excellent summer and gets everybody lined up. Clark looks ready for a second-year jump. DeMarvion Overshown's season-ending knee injury hurts. After that? It's thin but workable because the Cowboys use three safeties more than three linebackers, which costs Jabril Cox a spot. A waiver claim is a possibility here, but don't discount Malik Jefferson either.
CORNERBACKS (7): Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis, Kelvin Joseph, Eric Scott Jr., Nahshon Wright
Diggs and Gilmore give the Cowboys their best cornerback tandem in years. Bland led the Cowboys in picks last year as a rookie (five). Lewis (foot) will likely need time to get ready after spending camp on the physically unable to perform list, but by keeping him, he can at least practice before he gets back to game action, which is what they did with Michael Gallup last year. Joseph has looked better recently in the slot. Wright has an ankle injury but needs to be on the roster for a day to be eligible to go on injured reserve and return.
SAFETIES (6): Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Israel Mukuamu, Markquese Bell, Juanyeh Thomas
Wilson will enter the season with only a week of practice after suffering a calf injury early in training camp. Hooker was signed to a three-year extension in camp. Kearse gives scheme flexibility from all the spots he can line up and is a good matchup versus tight ends. Bell will see time at linebacker now with Overshown (left ACL) out for the season, which helps Thomas get a spot.
SPECIALISTS (2): P Bryan Anger, K Brandon Aubrey
Aubrey will go into the season with the job but potentially a short leash. He performed better as camp and the preseason moved along, but until he does it under the bright lights, he is an unknown. Anger is the lone holdover in the kicking operation from 2022. No long-snapper (Trent Sieg) or C.J. Goodwin? Both will return to the roster after a day since they don't have to go through waivers.