With the Oxnard training camp wrapped up and those brutal 53-man roster cuts just days away, the Dallas Cowboys are officially in crunch time. Most of their starting spots are locked down, but a handful of positions are still wide open, and some bubble players are trying to throw a wrench into their plans, especially after what went down right here in our own backyard.
Marist Liufau Is On The Outside Looking In, But He’s Got One Last Shot
Talk about a numbers game! The Cowboys’ edge rush group is absolutely stacked, with veteran Von Miller joining the likes of Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, and Rashan Gary. Even James Houston, who’s arguably their best pure pass rusher, has a fight on his hands just to make the squad. Where does that leave a guy like Marist Liufau? Right now, he’s on the outside looking in, battling Sam Williams just to get a sniff. Defensive coordinator Christian Parker is giving him a shot at inside linebacker too, which is a lifeline, but Liufau needs to absolutely ball out in these final preseason games to make those decision-makers sweat.
Jaydon Blue’s Lumen Field Letdown Has Him Facing an Uncertain Future
Then there’s Jaydon Blue, who the Cowboys desperately want to succeed, but man, he just hasn’t delivered. His rookie season was a letdown, and training camp didn’t exactly turn things around. Remember when he was out there at Lumen Field, trying to make an impact against our Seahawks? It wasn’t exactly a highlight reel moment from that game on August 15th. Now he’s coming back from injury, which means he might not even get much action in these final two preseason matchups. With hardly any solid film, Dallas could probably stash him on the practice squad. But if Blue can pull off one monster run or a dazzling highlight play on national TV? That changes everything. It’s a huge gamble for him right now.
Joe Milton’s Elite Traits Are Shaking Up The QB2 Race After His Emerald City Showing
And speaking of Lumen Field, remember Joe Milton slinging it against the Hawks in the second half of that August 15th game? The Cowboys are clearly hoping he locks down that QB2 spot, and honestly, he’s doing it. He’s showing more consistency and reliability than we’ve seen from him, and when you combine that with his elite traits, he looks like the ideal project player to develop behind Dak Prescott. Sure, Sam Howell is right there, with a full season of starting under his belt and a more predictable game. But Howell’s upside? It just doesn’t compare to Milton’s raw talent. This guy is making a serious case, and that makes the decision even harder.
So, what happens next? The Cowboys have those final two preseason games, including their matchup against the Cardinals, and then it’s D-Day for the 53-man roster. For players like Liufau, Blue, and Milton, these aren’t just games, they’re auditions for their NFL futures. Every snap, every tackle, every pass is going to count big time. Will someone pull off a shocking performance and force their way onto the roster? We’re about to find out, and you know we’ll be watching every single agonizing cut.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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