3 Dallas Cowboys with nothing to lose this preseason, including veteran playing for one last chance
These Dallas Cowboys are players to watch very closely on Saturday night versus the Seattle Seahawks and throughout the rest of the preseason.
The Dallas Cowboys preseason is upon us, as they’re set to play the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night. The preseason is a time to root for underdogs and players with nothing to lose, so I thought I’d list three such Cowboys players you should be looking out for starting this weekend.
Let’s dive in!
1. OLB Marist Liufau
It’s been a long journey for Liufau, who is playing for his third defensive coordinator in as many years in the league. He’s also playing a new position, having been moved from inside to outside linebacker. In other words, this feels like his last chance to stick around and make an impact.
Liufau’s versatility is his calling card, but it won’t be enough to secure a 53-man roster spot. Even less so if rookie LB Jaishawn Barham, who is lining up everywhere on the defensive front, continues to rise.
Liufau needs to shine under the lights in three preseason games or his chances to make the team won’t be looking very good.
Here’s the good news for Liufau, though: shining on special teams could go a long way. He was one of the Cowboys’ snap count leaders on special teams last year and if he can prove he can be solid depth on defense while bringing value on special teams, he’ll raise his stock.
2. TE Michael Trigg
Talk about an intrigguing player… Okay, I’ll stop.
In all seriousness, we’re talking about an undrafted free agent here. There’s not much to lose for Trigg, but there’s a lot to gain. He can bring something unique to the table for the Cowboys: a dynamic threat at tight end that can line up as a big slot receiver.
The problem is he needs to either beat former second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker for the third spot at tight end (Brevyn Spann-Ford appears to be locked in as TE2) or convince the Cowboys of carrying a fourth tight end.
A solid preseason showing could go a long way, specifically because NFL teams knew a lot about him going into the 2026 NFL Draft. He was a projected Day 3 pick that slipped toward undrafted free agency because of off-field concerns. If he shows out in August, he can make himself a very attractive waiver wire target for teams throughout the league.
That in turn could drastically influence the Cowboys’ decision-making when they get around to the tight end room.
3. S Julius Wood
Wood’s path in the NFL has been a rocky one. He was signed as a UDFA by the Cowboys in 2024 and waived before cuts. The Tennessee Titans picked him up from waivers, but he was later suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s PED policy. The Titans waived him at cutdown day in 2025 before he landed back on the Cowboys practice squad.
Now, Wood is turning heads in practice and looks great. He would likely make most NFL teams as a backup the way he’s playing. But he happens to be a part of one of the most crowded safety rooms in the league right now.
With nothing to lose, can he do enough for the Cowboys to carry one more man to complement a room that already includes Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, Malik Hooker, and P.J. Locke?
