The 2023 Dallas Cowboys will kick off their season next Sunday night when they visit the New York Giants. 

Now that the roster is officially set, the timing is perfect to predict what the depth chart is going to look like. Who is going to be starting? Who will be the backups? 

Let's dive in and get to know the Cowboys a little bit better.

Cowboys Offense

Position	Starter(s)	Reserve(s)
Quarterback	Dak Prescott	Cooper Rush, Trey Lance
Running back	Tony Pollard	Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaugh*, Hunter Luepke (FB)**
Wide receiver	CeeDee Lamb (Slot/Y), Brandin Cooks (Z), Michael Gallup (X)	Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks*
Tight end	Jake Ferguson	Luke Schoonmaker*, Peyton Hendershot
Offensive line	Tyron Smith Tyler Smith Tyler Biadasz Zack Martin Terence Steele	Chuma Edoga, Asim Richards*, T.J. Bass**

Cowboys Defense

Position	Starter(s)	Reserve(s)
Edge rusher	Micah Parsons DeMarcus Lawrence	Sam Williams, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr., Viliami Fehoko Jr.*
Interior defensive line	Osa Odighizuwa (3T) Johnathan Hankins (NT)	Mazi Smith*, Chauncey Golston, Neville Gallimore
Inside linebacker	Leighton Vander Esch Damone Clark	Devin Harper, Markquese Bell
Cornerback	Trevon Diggs Stephon Gilmore DaRon Bland (Nickel)	Jourdan Lewis, Noah Igbinoghene, Eric Scott Jr.*
Safety	Malik Hooker (FS) Donovan Wilson Jayron Kearse	Israel Mukuamu, Juanyeh Thomas

Cowboys Special Teams

Position	Starter	Reserve(s)
Kicker	Brandon Aubrey	N/A
Punter	Bryan Anger	N/A
Long snapper	Trent Sieg	N/A
Kick returner	KaVontae Turpin	Deuce Vaughn
Punt returner	KaVontae Turpin	Deuce Vaughn

Cowboys depth chart notes

• First off, one note for those who counted the number of starters: Yes, I've got 12 starters listed on the Cowboys defense. That's not a mistake but a reflection of Dan Quinn's high usage of three-safety looks. Last year, the three starting safeties were in the top 5 of the team's defensive snap counts. That won't change this year but it'd still be inaccurate to not list nickel cornerback DaRon Bland as a starter as well. 
• Staying with the defense, Markquese Bell is a safety converted into a linebacker as the Cowboys have suggested earlier in the offseason. Officially, he's a safety. But right now, it's more accurate to pencil him in as a linebacker backup.
• The Cowboys definitely have thin depth at the offensive line. Eight players are considered the minimum number of players you can carry in an NFL 53-man roster. 
• At wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb is expected to play most snaps in the slot with Brandin Cooks taking over outside him. Despite the team's wishes to move Michael Gallup around, I bet the vast majority of his reps will still come as the isolated wideout. Jalen Tolbert was so good that he might push for WR3 reps.
• Cooper Rush should be QB2 behind Dak Prescott despite the hype surrounding the trade for Trey Lance. The Cowboys will benefit (although hopefully they don't need it) from the league's emergency quarterback rule with Lance.

Early guess at Cowboys' Week 1 inactive list 

This is likely going to be defined by special teams and thus it's tough to predict but based on last year's opening inactive list, here's my educated guess at next Sunday's six players that won't suit up. I'm guessing C.J. Goodwin is called up from the practice squad.

• QB T. Lance
• RB H. Luepke
• CB Jourdan Lewis
• S Juanyeh Thomas
• DE Viliami Fehoko Jr. 
• CB Eric Scott Jr.

Cowboys insider reveals ‘radical’ change Dak Prescott’s game will feature

Re-imagined aspect of the offense.

Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports