Dallas Cowboys faced with three pressing questions immediately after preseason ends
With the Dallas Cowboys' preseason coming to an end, it's time to turn our attention to roster cuts. However, it's also a time to reflect on what the team looks like heading into the 2024 NFL season. That means reviewing the good and the bad. In this case, we're looking at some outstanding concerns that remain […]
With the Dallas Cowboys' preseason coming to an end, it's time to turn our attention to roster cuts. However, it's also a time to reflect on what the team looks like heading into the 2024 NFL season.
That means reviewing the good and the bad. In this case, we're looking at some outstanding concerns that remain in our minds two weeks removed from Week 1's game against the Cleveland Browns.
Let's get started with the three biggest questions the Cowboys still need to answer after the preseason.
What's the plan if CeeDee Lamb's holdout goes on?
We're officially two weeks away from the Cowboys' season opener against the Cleveland Browns and CeeDee Lamb has yet to report with the team. Jerry Jones recently declined to comment on a potential deal, a change of tone to his usual willingness to discuss it. The last we heard from Lamb was when he posted an Instagram story of Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker putting on the black suit from Spider-Man 3, something many interpreted as him embracing the villain role amid contract negotiations.
If Lamb were to report today, it already would be ambitious and way too optimistic to expect him to be at 100% and on the same page as Dak Prescott when the season kicks off. What is the Cowboys' plan if Lamb isn't ready to go Week 1 or even if it's a pitch count? Who steps up? Will it be enough to beat one of the best defenses in the NFL in Cleveland?
"You got to have a healthy plan," McCarthy told reporters via The Athletic's Jon Machota. "Yeah, definitely. We've got to be smart there and just use good judgment. And that'll be the case. But yeah, I think it's just the reality of where we are. So, we'll deal with it one day at a time."
Is Caelen Carson enough during DaRon Bland's absence?
Speaking of being enough, the Cowboys are seemingly not looking for outside replacements to DaRon Bland following a foot injury that will knock him out six to eight weeks. At least that's what Jerry Jones told reporters postgame. Rather, they'll bet on their in-house talent. That likely means they're placing their chips on fifth-round rookie Caelen Carson, who has been a big surprise in training camp.
It might be unfair to ask Carson to provide top-notch play right off the bat but the NFL is a fast-moving league. The rookie has been physical in camp and does a great job mirroring receivers. Will he be enough for as long as Bland is out? He sounds promising but rookies are unpredictable. The Cowboys are taking a big risk here.
Will these running backs be any good?
Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott are surrounded by big question marks: Can the former stay healthy? Can the latter be explosive again? This is one of two positions (along with cornerback despite their public stance) that I could see the Cowboys addressing on cutdown day. They just don't have a lot going on at running back, to the point that I believe Deuce Vaughn has proven he should be fighting for RB2 snaps given how he played in the preseason.
This unit might need a spark. We'll see if they make it happen.
