The Dallas Cowboys lost the preseason opener, but a few players did what they could to lock up a spot on the 53-man roster, though one player put his in jeopardy.
It's a good thing preseason results are wholly unimportant because the Dallas Cowboys got off to a losing start on Saturday against the Jaguars. Of course, it's good to note that virtually every Dallas starter didn't touch the field against Jacksonville while Trevor Lawrence and Co. started the game. So to only take a 28-23 loss actually doesn't look too bad in that context.
With that being said, the Cowboys saw a bit of a mixed bag overall from their backups who are trying to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. The offensive line depth looked shaky at best, only furthering the need to get Zack Martin back in the building. There was also a handful of untimely turnovers that you never want to see. But at the same time, some guys fighting for a job really impressed.
So with all of that in consideration, let's take a look at three Cowboys who went out and grabbed a roster spot (or at least a better shot at one) but also one player who might be in trouble and in danger of getting cut.
Cowboys who earned roster spot No. 3: Juanyeh Thompson, S
The Cowboys safety room is one of the most entrenched position groups on the roster. Donovan Wilson, Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker all see frequent snaps for Dan Quinn's defense and Israel Mukuamu, a 2021 sixth-round pick, continues to be good on special teams and frequently gets praised by the coaching staff for his progression.
Given that it's likely that Dallas will try to only keep four safeties, there isn't a ton of room for anyone to break into that group. However, 2022 UDFA signing Juanyeh Thompson is, at the very least, giving the coaching staff something to think about, particularly after his performance against the Jaguars.
Thompson made one of the biggest early plays, coming out on the Jaguars' first drive and staying with his assignment in coverage as a play broke down, which led to a slightly errant throw from Lawrence that Thompson capitalized on with an interception.
That was a massive moment for the player trying to carve out a roster spot.
All told, the former UDFA signing finished the game with just one tackle but two pass defenses and the interception. He's also been a player who has been making waves in training camp with similar types of plays. If he can keep that up, there will at least be a strong case for the defensive back depth to keep five safeties with the Georgia Tech product being one of them.
Cowboys who earned roster spot No. 2: John Stephens Jr., TE
If you've been paying close attention to the buzz around Cowboys training camp, you've probably seen UDFA tight end John Stephens Jr. mentioned more than time or two.
Consistently throughout practices to this point, the former Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns star has been making plays in the passing attack and has been a drumbeat ongoing throughout camp. But the big questions for him were whether or not he could crack the roster in a crowded tight end room and, more importantly, whether that would translate to the field in the preseason.
Suffice it to say that the latter question was answered on Saturday against the Jaguars.
Stephens ended up leading the Cowboys in receiving yards against Jacksonville, hauling in five of his seven targets on the night for 56 yards and one of the two Dallas receiving touchdowns on the night.
The big key for Stephens making the roster will be showing improvement as a blocker so that he can be utilized in non-passing situations, even as a depth piece. Having said that, the rookie has looked like a matchup problem in the passing attack, which could make him valuable for a group that is likely to piece things together at the position with Dalton Schultz's departure.
Though he might not be a lock to make the 53-man, this was a greeat start that Stephens can build on in order to find his way onto the roster.
Cowboys who earned roster spot No. 1: Deuce Vaughn, RB
Given that the Cowboys used a sixth-round pick on former Kansas State star Deuce Vaughn, it was always likely that he was going to make the 53-man roster. That became even more clear with the buzz coming out of practices in training camp that the diminutive back was more than making an impression with Mike McCarthy and the coaching staff.
But now we have even more proof that Vaughn isn't just going to make the roster, but he's going to be the top back off of the bench behind Tony Pollard with the way that the depth chart currently shakes out.
Vaughn was electric in every facet of the game throughout the matchup against the Jags. He led the team in rushing with eight carries for 50 yards, also punching one in for a score. Though he caught all three of his targets, he didn't have much room and managed just six receiving yards, but he then showed his special teams ability with a 30-yard kick return.
Oh yeah, he also passed the eye test with runs like this.
Vaughn's size and the shortcomings that result from that were the big factors working against him in the draft and, subsequently, projecting him as a pro. But anyone who saw him in college knew the dynamic playmaking he brings to the table.
Now, every Cowboys fan is fully aware of that too after seeing him in action. And if he continues to show out like this and gets opportunities behind the starting O-line, look out for the fireworks from the rookie.
Cowboys on the verge of being cut: KaVontae Turpin, KR/WR
One of the biggest spark plugs from the 2022 season was return-man KaVontae Turpin really giving the Cowboys special teams a needed shot in the arm.
However, he's also been in focus at the start of training camp because of the arrival of Deuce Vaughn. The rookie was a playmaker in the return game in college and, with a full roster that seems like it could be set at wide receiver without including Turpin for his special teams ability, the belief was that the veteran would have to make some more positive impressions for him to make the roster.
On one hand, Turpin did that offensively in the first preseason game of the year, making a play with a 15-yard reception on the one target he was able to catch out of two on the day. On the other hand, though, he committed one of the cardinal sins of the preseason, putting the pigskin on the turf.
Turpin coughed up a fumble in the first half on a punt return that ultimately put the Jags in great field position to set up their first touchdown of the game.
For a player who is already fighting for a roster spot, Turpin turning the ball over could be working against him heavily in terms of getting on the 53-man roster. With Vaughn and Rico Dowdle showcasing some of their own return ability in the loss to Jacksonville, having Turpin fumble could be one of the deciding factors for a decision that already has razor-thin margins as to who gets kept for special teams purposes.
