What's 'Best-Case Scenario' For Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland?

They say when one door closes, another opens, and for Dallas Cowboys rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland , he hasn't just walked through the door; he's cartwheeled through it.

With fellow defensive end Sam Williams suffering an ACL injury early in training camp, Kneeland, who was going to be a bit-part player for Mike Zimmer's defense, was suddenly thrown into the deep end as part of the rotation.

And the rookie has been on point ever since.

But that is in camp and preseason. What is the best-case scenario for Kneeland in his rookie season? For NFL.com's Chad Reuter, Marshawn becomes a crucial cog in Zimmer's defense.

"Kneeland beats out veteran players for reps, helping replace the injured Sam Williams (knee)," Reuter writes in his prediction piece. "Kneeland's power and hustle off the edge earns him second-effort sacks, and his leverage playing against the run makes him an asset in the new Cowboys defense."

Kneeland's rise this offseason shouldn't be seen as too much of an eye-brow raiser, after all he's a second-round pick who has learned from DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons in training camp.

That's a pretty good duo to learn from. Not to mention Carl Lawson and Chauncey Golston, too.

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So Kneeland was presented with an opportunity at the beginning of camp in Oxnard and he has taken it with both hands. Not only has his camp been impressive, but so too has what he has put in film in Dallas' two preseason games.

His physicality, power, and ability to help stop the run make him a good addition to Zimmer's defense, as he looks to show more of the same in the Saturday preseason finale at AT&T Stadium against the Chargers.

Injuries create opportunities, and so far, Kneeland has certainly taken his.