7 Winners and 4 Losers from Cowboys Preseason Week 2: Multiple roster battles are over, biggest steal of the NFL draft?
The Dallas Cowboys got another preseason win but as usual, we care more about individual performances than the final score. Here are the winners and losers from Week 2 of the preseason.
The Dallas Cowboys had a great night in Phoenix, Arizona, as they beat the Cardinals 34-13. But what about the individual performances? Here are my winners and losers, starting with the rookie who stole the show on defense.
Winner: LB Jaishawn Barham
Barham doesn’t look like your average third-round rookie. In fact, he’s looking like one of the top steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In addition to rocking the green dot, it didn’t take long for him to make plays. His best was a tackle for loss in which he shot his gap with speed and violently beat the right tackle’s block. Shortly afterwards, he had a tackle out of zone coverage and recorded a pressure on a third-down pass attempt as a blitzer.
Near the end of the first quarter, Barham had another top-tier runs top where he essentially slipped by a Cardinals guard with ease to make the tackle.
He simply looks way too comfortable on the field and it wouldn’t surprise me if he gets the chance to start at some point this season.
Winner: QB Joe Milton
The highlight reel is pretty long for Milton, who completed 9-of-13 pass attempts for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with a near-perfect 154.4 passer rating.
He nailed a 53-yard shot to WR Jonathan Mingo down the sideline. He found Malik Davis in a scramble drill in the red zone for a touchdown. Later, scrambling to his left again, he delivered a touch pass to rookie Camden Brown, who took off for a 70-yard gain. Through it all, he looked cool, calm, and collected.
He looks like the clear-cut favorite to back up Dak Prescott. A red zone interception for Sam Howell sure won’t help change that.
Loser: OT Drew Shelton
The fourth-round rookie looks like someone who isn’t ready on several fronts. That’s fine and not the end of the world. He can develop. But I struggle to see him contributing in Year 1.
On Saturday, Shelton consistently struggled to win his blocks in pass protection. On both of Milton’s touchdown passes, Shelton struggled to keep the pocket clean. He needs time.
Winner: RB Malik Davis
You can forget about any and all questions about who is the second best running back on the Cowboys. The battle is over. It’s Davis, who ran hard on Saturday night. He ran over a defender and caught a touchdown pass.
More than that, he stood out a few times in pass protection. That includes a blitz pick up on the Cowboys’ 70-yard play between Milton and undrafted rookie Camden Brown. He’s just better and deserves to be RB2.
Loser: RB Phil Mafah
Phil Mafah did not get a single rush attempt on Saturday night until there was 2:14 remaining in the fourth. Now, to be fair, it was a 15-yard touchdown. It was a great one, too!
But his lack of play following a big hit on special teams will be tough to overcome. That combined with Davis shining and even Jaydon Blue having some moments, Mafah’s stock is considerably down.
If I had to call it right now, he would not be on my 53-man roster projection.
Winner: Shavon Revel Jr.
Revel Jr.’s day got off to a rough start when he was immediately flagged for illegal contact. But he proved he can shake things off quickly, a valuable trait for an NFL cornerback.
Revel Jr. capitalized on Cardinals WR Simi Fehoko (former Cowboy) tripping. Dropping back into a deep zone, he broke on the pass and got the early interception.
Loser: OLB Marist Liufau
At this point, Liufau’s chances of making the roster are all about special teams. For the second consecutive week, he struggled to show up on defense. In the third quarter, he missed what could have been a sack on Gardner Minshew.
Winner(s): WR Jonathan Mingo and Camden Brown
It’s starting to look like these two, actively fighting to be WR5, will force the Cowboys to carry six wideouts on the 53-man roster. Both had big moments Saturday night, as noted above. The final numbers:
- Mingo: 2 catches, 62 yards, 1 TD
- Brown: 2 catches, 77 yards
Plus, both keep contributing to special teams. Mingo continues to be involved as a punt returner while Brown recorded a tackle.
Loser: S Julius Wood
This one has nothing to do with his play. Wood kept showing up on the field and finished with six combined tackles plus another on special teams. However, Wood was seemingly taken to the locker room after going through the concussion protocol, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
A week away from roster cuts, that’s a tough blow for Wood’s roster chances. Additionally, Cowboys safety Markquese Bell did not suit up for the game, which suggests he’s ahead of Wood in the eyes of the coaches.
Winner: RB Jaydon Blue
Maybe Davis is looking like RB2 but Blue looked much improved compared to last week. He ran with physicality and had a couple of impressive hurdles. He finished the game with 15 carries for 75 yards, which is an average gain of five yards. That’s a positive for the young running back.
