Joe Milton struggles, late-round rookie puts Cowboys on notice: 5 stock risers and 2 fallers following preseason loss to Rams
The Cowboys’ preseason loss had some winners.
The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Los Angeles Rams 31-21 in a game that got ugly at times. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t players playing great football on Saturday night.
That’s why we’re listing players whose stock is up or down after the weekend’s action.
Ah, football is so back. Let’s dive in.
Stock up: RB Phil Mafah
Though Malik Davis bested Mafah as far as the statline goes, the latter made a loud statement of why he’s worthy of a roster spot on Saturday.
The seventh-round rookie’s 3.6 yards per attempt average doesn’t tell the whole story, as a big gain for 14 yards to set up a first and goal was wiped away due to a illegal formation. He also added 15 receiving yards in two catches.
His game put the team on notice: Mafah is here to compete for a big role on offense. If the rookie keeps playing like he did in Week 1 of the preseason, he can emerge not only as a roster spot candidate but as someone with a significant share of the team’s rush attempts.
Stock down: QB Joe Milton
Though he ended the game on a positive note, it was a bad day for Milton. His accuracy was off until halfway through the fourth quarter, when he strung together multiple touch passes. However, misfires plagued his play the first three quarters as his receivers often didn’t even have a chance to make a play.
At one point, he had a wide open Ryan Flournoy but he sailed the throw. He also missed an open receiver in the end zone at the end of the half.
Stock up: LB Marist Liufau
Liufau was the best player on the field on Saturday. It started with a highlight reel tackle in the opening kickoff and carried on through the entire first half.
Liufau recorded a goal-line stop, he blew up a Rams RB in pass protection, and more than once found himself flying to an open target to knock the ball incomplete. Liufau’s play will be crucial for the Cowboys as the team navigates the DeMarvion Overshown injury.
Stock up: WR Traeshon Holden
The undrafted rookie wide receiver build upon a strong training camp by leading the Cowboys in receiving yards with 42, largely thanks to a 35-yard catch down the sideline in the fourth quarter. Holden didn’t see playing time until late in the second half but that’s clearly changing. The dude can play. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said postgame Holden is moving up the depth chart.
Stock down: CB Andrew Booth
Andrew Booth getting beat deep early in the game wasn’t a great look because he was the victim of the same issue last preseason and regular season. Though he’s turned heads at practice in training camp at times, Booth isn’t off to a great start this August.
Stock up: DT Perrion Winfrey
The Cowboys’ defensive line didn’t look great early in the game as the Rams won the push in the trenches consistently. But someone who stood out was Winfrey: The former UFL defender once picked in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns.
Winfrey has been working at both nose tackle and three-technique and though he only added one tackle, he made an impact closing gaps in the run game.
Stock up: EDGE James Houston
Houston racked up four tackles on Saturday but it was how close he got to the Rams quarterbacks that really impressed us. Houston was a late addition to the roster and he faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster but he showed why he can be a productive rotational edge rusher.
He showed several moves including a long-arm rush early in the game that served as a pressure.
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