The Dallas Cowboys have s et their 53-man roster as we roll into Week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season. Unfortunately for the coaching staffs around the league, that's far from when the personnel decisions stop.
After all, the Cowboys still need to decide who will dress up for gameday. As long as they have eight active offensive linemen, the magic number is 48. That's the total of active players allowed on gameday, meaning barring any practice squad promotions, the Cowboys need to list five inactives 90 minutes before their season opener's kickoff.
Here's my best educated guess at who those five players will be.
- QB Trey Lance: I honestly believe Cooper Rush will get the QB2 nod over Lance. The Cowboys just know what they're getting in Rush and Lance's five interception game in the preseason finale was the perfect example of a backup who can lose you any given game, regardless of whether or not he's got upside and could use much more experience. Lance will still dress as the emergency QB but will be a healthy scratch.
- TE Brevyn Spann-Ford: If the Cowboys dress Spann-Ford, it might be a major indicator as to how they plan to play on offense. He's the team's fourth tight end and provides good run blocking. If Mike McCarthy expects his offense to be full of 12 and 13 personnel groupings, he might just be active. Right now, I think the numbers game hurts him. The team clearly likes the UDFA though.
- OL Matt Waletzko: An offensive lineman will likely have to be inactive and Waletzko might be the man. Asim Richards provides tackle and guard flexibility and might get the nod over Waletzko, who had to fight hard for a spot on the 53-man roster.
- LB Buddy Johnson: I could see the Cowboys finding a way to suit up Johnson as they appear to really like him on special teams, having named him captain of the unit in Week 2 of the preseason. However, third-round rookie Marist Liufau will likely be tasked with
- CB Andrew Booth Jr.: The Cowboys will likely lean on Mukuamu as the top backup as rookie Caelen Carson is set to start in the place of DaRon Bland, who is set to miss a minimum of four games. I believe Booth Jr. is inactive while the Cowboys carry four safeties on gameday.
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