Unexpected Moves: 3 Cowboys Players on the Roster Bubble

The Dallas Cowboys still have one preseason game remaining against the Atlanta Falcons before they have to get under the league mandated 53-man roster limit, but one game shouldn’t alter the decision-making process too much.

Odds are Brian Schottenheimer and his coaching staff already have a pretty good idea of who’s staying and who’s going, especially if you read between the lines of what he said recently.

5 Dallas Cowboys players that could ruin everyone's 53-man roster projections, including hidden rookie gems - A to Z Sports

“We’ll sit down and make some decisions about the entire roster,” Schottenheimer told reporters. “There will probably be a few surprises compared to the projections out there, where people might say, I thought for sure this guy was going to make it.”

One can assume from Schottenheimer’s statement the bulk of the Cowboys 53-man roster is already penciled in.

What the “few surprises” are that he references is anyone’s guess. But that’s what we plan on doing today. We’re going to attempt to predict who some of Dallas’ surprise roster cuts could be and explain why we can to that assumption.

RB Miles Sanders

Despite the Cowboys lack of clarity at the RB position, Miles Sanders time in Dallas looks to be short-lived.

Javonte Williams is obviously the RB1 after being held out with the rest of the starters in the preseason, and Jaydon Blue receiving first-team reps prior to his ankle/heel is a pretty good indication he’ll be the primary backup.

That leaves Sanders on the outside looking in competing with Phil Mafah and any other RB Dallas could potentially claim off of waivers or add after roster cuts.

The hopes of his recapturing his Pro Bowl form hasn’t materialized, which should make him a surprise cut in the favor of another RB with more upside.

OL Asim Richards

Asim Richards entered the offseason under the assumption he would be the Cowboys swing tackle for the second year in a row after showing growth as a rotational starter.

Then throw in the fact he has the position flex to kick inside to guard and one would think that added versatility would make him a virtual roster lock.

Unfortunately for him, Nathan Thomas came out of nowhere, not only jumping him on the depth chart, but earning the trust of both his QB and the coaching staff. This would likely be strictly a numbers crunch move were Dallas may have to go deeper at another position and shorter on the OL. Ideally, he’d go unclaimed, returning to the practice squad.

DT Mazi Smith

Mazi Smith looks to be heading down the same path as Taco Charlton as a former Michigan player and first-round draft bust.

Despite being listed as a starter on Dallas’ depth chart, and unlike Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas, Smith has played quite a bit in both preseason games already.

Sadly, the same issues that have plagued him in his first two seasons with the Cowboys continue to do so in Year 3. Despite his natural strength and power, he’s still struggling to anchor down against the run and hasn’t shown much pass rushing upside either. Even with DT being the weak link on the Cowboys roster, Smith could still be a surprise cut.

Related Posts

It’ѕ tіme to admіt іt: The 2025 Iѕіah Pacheco haѕ comрletely tranѕformed – a ѕtronger, more mature, and more exрloѕіve verѕіon than ever that haѕ amazed the entіre NFL. Every ѕрrіnt, every cut carrіeѕ the energy of a ѕtar at the рeak of hіѕ career. No longer the enthuѕіaѕtіc rookіe of the рaѕt, Pacheco іѕ now the ѕoul of the Kanѕaѕ Cіty Chіefѕ offenѕe, the…

Pacheco rushed for 135 yards over the first two games of the 2024 season before going down with a fractured fibula. Since returning from that, the former

💔 EMOTIONAL MOMENT 🏈: Chrіѕ Joneѕ Chokeѕ Uр Whіle Sharіng How Patrіck Mahomeѕ and Travіѕ Kelce Lіfted Hіm Uр іn the Chіefѕ Locker Room — “They Remіnded Me Why We Fіght” 😢🔥

From the Altar to Arrowhead: The emotіonal Weekend That Connected Taylor ѕwіft’ѕ Weddіng Hіnt to the Chіefѕ’ Human Heartbreak and Brotherhood The laѕt few dayѕ have unfolded…

🚨 BREAKING: Phіladelрhіa Eagleѕ Icon Jalen Hurtѕ Exрoѕeѕ Serіeѕ of Referee ‘Rіggіng Callѕ’ That Coѕt Eagleѕ venѕ Theіr Game Agaіnѕt Denver Broncoѕ👇

The Philadelphia Eagles faced a crushing defeat against the Denver Broncos in what has now become one of the most controversial games of the season. At the

🦅 BREAKING: Referee Adrіan Hіll Exрlaіnѕ Four Controverѕіal Callѕ After Eagleѕ’ Loѕѕ to Broncoѕ: “Everythіng Waѕ Clear” 👇

Article

🚨 BREAKING: Tua Tagovaіloa Callѕ Out the NFL for “Turnіng Football Into a Celebrіty Show” — “It’ѕ Suррoѕed to Be About the Game, Not the Cameraѕ.”

Mіamі Dolрhіnѕ quarterback Tua Tagovaіloa haѕ joіned the choruѕ of рlayerѕ ѕрeakіng out agaіnѕt the NFL’ѕ іncreaѕіng ѕhіft toward entertaіnment and celebrіty ѕрectacle. Known for hіѕ calm…

“After a ѕhockіng uрѕet loѕѕ to the Pantherѕ, tenѕіonѕ were runnіng hіgh wіthіn the Dolрhіnѕ: A grouр of рlayerѕ were ѕuddenly ѕіngled out by theіr teammateѕ іn the locker room for unthіnkable behavіor – and what followed ѕent the entіre team іnto chaoѕ…”

The Miami Dolphins entered their Week 5 matchup against the Carolina Panthers as clear favorites — a high-powered offense, a confident locker room, and