Cowboys Who Need Strong Preseason Finish to Make 53-Man Roster

With each NFL team needing to cut their rosters down to 53 players by August 30, time is running out for those on the roster bubble to make their case.

Teams have already had to whittle their roster down from 90 to 80. The players who remain on the roster have at least done enough to survive the first two rounds of cuts. Now the competition is about to get more fierce.

Practices are important over the next week, but the final preseason game is also a major piece of the puzzle for those on the roster bubble. It's the last time coaches will get to see players in live action against another team with players also trying to make a team.

Here's a look at three players who have to have a strong finish to make the final 53-man roster.

QB Cooper Rush

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INGLEWOOD, CA - AUGUST 20: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) throws a pass during the NFL preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Chargers on August 20, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

One of the more interesting camp battles to follow has been the race for backup quarterback. Cooper Rush did an admirable job last season, but he's faced a serious push from Will Grier this preseason.

Rush was pressed into a start just once last season, and he led the team to a win over the Minnesota Vikings with 325 passing yards and two touchdowns.

You can make the argument that Grier has shown the higher upside based on what he's done in the preseason. After throwing for 98 yards on 10 attempts with nine yards rushing in his preseason debut, head coach Mike McCarthy had high praise for the quarterback.

"I'll tell you man, what a gritty performance," he said, per the team's official website. "I thought he did great. Just a gritty performance. It was good to see him in command and running the offense. It was his first real opportunity in this offense, and I thought he did a really nice job."

Now, the pressure should be on Rush to prove that he is the one for the job. The loser of the competition is likely headed to the practice squad. It's unlikely the Cowboys carry three quarterbacks with bigger needs elsewhere.

Edge Tarell Basham

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 26: Tarell Basham #93 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates against the Washington Football Team during an NFL game at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

The Cowboys are going to have a lot of hard decisions to make along the defensive front. The front office added multiple known players on the edge and the interior.

There's a good chance that Tarell Basham—who started six games last season—is going to wind up on the outside looking in.

As far as edge rushers go, DeMarcus Lawrence and Sam Williams are no-brainers. Lawrence is the most talented pass-rusher they have outside of Micah Parsons, who plays there part-time. Williams was a second-round pick, so they won't risk losing him on waivers.

The team just signed Dante Fowler Jr., and he has some familiarity with Dan Quinn. That could leave a potential decision between Basham and Dorance Armstrong Jr.

Both put up similar numbers last season. The difference is that Armstrong was given a two-year contract this offseason and the team would take on a $6 million dead cap charge if they release him. Meanwhile, they would save money if they release Basham.

The Ohio University product is going to have to showcase why he should stay on the roster in the final preseason game.

DT Carlos Watkins

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Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Carlos Watkins (91) runs onto the field before the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Again, the defensive line is going to be the most interesting unit to watch for roster cuts. Carlos Watkins had 14 starts last season and is far from a lock to make the final roster this year.

Going into training camp Watkins was already on thin ice. The one-year contract he signed only comes with $152,500 guaranteed, so the Cowboys could release him essentially for free.

That's not good news for Watkins as the Cowboys have utilized the draft and free agency to bring in new blood. They have drafted three defensive tackles over the last two years: John Ridgeway, Osa Odighizuwa and Quinton Bohanna.

All three of them are still on the roster and are among the many tackles who are battling for a job.

They also carry the benefit of undiscovered upside and cheap rookie contracts that will keep them under team control for the next few years.

A huge preseason finale might save Watkins, but he's likely a cut candidate.