Dallas plans for the 53-man cut-down include prioritizing roster certainty over Week 3 results. Prescott and Lamb sat, while Javonte Williams was among the few stars held out, and Miles Sanders was listed as banged up. The absence of top weapons underscored a day of depth-chart evaluation, with Booth and Clark healthy-scratched to secure spots. Joe Milton III and Jaydon Blue flashed, hinting at the Cowboys’ coaching staff’s willingness to ride depth if needed.

With Tuesday’s deadline looming, the forum around who’s safe grew louder. The Cowboys face tough calls at running back and on defense, but the healthy-bubble players who performed in preseason could steal roles. The article outlines a team weighing upside against risk, a reminder that fantasy value is shaped not just by star power but by the aftershocks of roster decisions.

The Cowboys’ latest roster chatter centers on five players who could flip from bubble to staple as cutdown day approaches, with Friday’s preseason finale against Atlanta serving as the deciding stage. Brian Schottenheimer warns mock rosters will offer surprises, underscoring Dallas’ patience with development and the brutal not-for-long reality of August football. The pieces highlight Mazi Smith as a candidate who could still find a path, James Houston’s edge burst as a potential separator, Mafah Blue Holden’s rookie adjustments, and a cluster of wideouts and cornerbacks battling for depth and special-teams value.

Five bubble cases drive the narrative: Smith’s first-round pedigree clashes with a three-year DL development trope, while Houston shows a rare first-step spark amid crowded DL depth. Mafah is contending for a late-season roster spot after a steady training camp, and Holden’s standout finish keeps a rookie-wayline open for a surprising status shift. The WRs Flournoy and Brooks—plus rookie Holden—test how special-teams impact carries. In the CB room, injuries complicate lines between Booth, Mukuamu and the holdovers, with Ellam-Bland-injury dynamics shaping the final roster picture.

The mood across Frisco is pragmatic: the 53-man projection is a moving target, and the Friday showcase could redefine the Cowboys’ approach to depth, special teams and floor-raising performances for the opening month of the season.