Cowboys' roster battle put on the fast track thanks to Raiders' coaching decision

The Dallas Cowboys play the Las Vegas Raiders this Saturday night for week 2 of the NFL preseason.

The game will be must-watch TV for diehard fans regardless of the 10 p.m. ET start time as Trey Lance will get another crack at impressing his coaches, among many other storylines to follow.

But today, we're diving into five more specific storylines to monitor closely that will shape what the 53-man roster looks like at the start of the season.

Perfect opportunity for cornerbacks to shine

Earlier in the week, Raiders HC Antonio Pierce revealed his intentions to name a starting quarterback following Saturday night's game. That means the Cowboys will be facing two hungry quarterbacks knowing how much is at stake. As a result, the Raiders will likely give both Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew good supporting casts.

Expect both quarterbacks to challenge the Cowboys' defensive backs. With a wide-open roster spot at CB5, there's ample opportunity for somebody to swoop in and secure a place on the team.

Deuce Vaughn vs Royce Freeman

Vaughn and Freeman didn't get to play in the opener due to hamstring and groin injuries, respectively but both are expected to play on Saturday against the Raiders. The rest of the RB room failed to impress in their absence so a spot is likely still open on the roster.

Vaughn has a unique chance to shine under the lights as his dynamic playmaking style is better suited for gameday than practice. But Freeman is legit competition, having received praise from head coach Mike McCarthy for his pass protection and special teams ability.

Josh Ball playing for a roster spot

With Chuma Edoga and Earl Bostick Jr. dealing with injuries, there's at least opening on the Cowboys' 53-man roster. Based off of last week, Josh Ball is the guy that will most likely step in given his strong play and poor performance from Matt Waletzko. He finished last week's game with the highest grade handed by PFF.

Here's the thing though: Ball played exclusively at right guard and the Cowboys need a backup tackle. Does he get a chance to show what he's got at tackle, where he's played before for Dallas?

Can Ryan Flournoy bounce back?

As a sixth-round rookie, Flournoy could face a tough fate come cutdown day if he doesn't bounce back. The good news for him is that he's been doing well in practice and the coaches are unlike to ignore that he's been catching up after missing the start of training camp.

But at the end of the day, Flournoy has to show them something. Is Saturday night the time?

Which LB stands out?

Speaking of PFF grades, former UFL standout Willie Harvey Jr. was the worst graded defender for Dallas last Sunday. Meanwhile, Buddy Johnson and Damien Wilson played a good game and Brock Mogensen had one interception off of Stetson Bennett.

This is an open battle and every game can sway things one way or the other.