After an impressive showing last Saturday night in the Dallas Cowboys’ 27-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the team returns home to close out the 2024 preseason against the Los Angeles Chargers, then will look ahead to the start of the regular season.
Saturday’s preseason clash is the final stand for players vying for a spot on the 2024 Dallas Cowboys roster.
It’s their last chance to prove they have what it takes to wear the star and represent America’s Team.
With that being said, here are seven players to watch in Saturday’s preseason battle.
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MORE: Cowboys vs. Chargers preview: injuries, odds, key players to watch
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The Cowboys’ sixth wide receiver spot was a fierce duel between rookie Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Moreno-Cropper throughout training camp.
However, last week’s preseason game was a turning point. Flournoy shone brightly, while Cropper unfortunately faltered, quite literally. A dropped pass and a critical fumble on a punt return might have tipped the scales against Cropper.
The Cowboys’ final roster decisions could hinge on special teams contributions, and this error might prove costly. Nevertheless, the upcoming Chargers game presents Cropper with a final opportunity for redemption.
A stellar performance could still salvage his chances, but the odds are stacked against him. The battle for the WR6 spot is far from over, but Flournoy now holds a significant advantage.
Tyler Guyton’s early exit Wednesday with a sore knee casts a shadow over his availability for the Chargers game. While he’s the projected starting left tackle for Week 1, his absence could mean Asim Richards steps in.
Interestingly, when asked about standout players in camp, Jones highlighted the entire offensive line, praising their depth and potential. This young group up front is generating excitement, reinforcing the Cowboys’ reputation for picking top-tier offensive linemen in the first round.
Regardless of Saturday’s game, Guyton is the left tackle of the future and the Cowboys’ most important player on offense, not named Dak Prescott.
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Deuce Vaughn’s performance against the Raiders reminded everyone of his potential. While the competition at running back will be tough, it appears that Elliott, Dowdle, and Luepke are safe.
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With possibly only one spot left, it looks like there will be a showdown between Vaughn and Freeman.
MORE: Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster prediction: Running Back
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The Dallas Cowboys fortified their defensive line by recently acquiring seasoned defensive end Carl Lawson.
Lawson, now part of a formidable pass-rushing rotation that includes Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Marshawn Kneeland, is eager to make an immediate impact.
Although a minor back issue sidelined him for the Cowboys’ second preseason game, Lawson, now fully recovered, is brimming with confidence. He believes this season presents a golden opportunity to showcase his peak performance, a testament to his relentless pursuit of physical excellence.
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The upcoming Saturday game will offer a tantalizing preview of Lawson’s capabilities, a chance for him to validate the high expectations surrounding his arrival in Dallas.
MORE: Dallas Cowboys 53 man roster prediction: Defensive line
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Mazi Smith missed the Vegas trip due to an allergic reaction to milk. The experienced player remained calm and understood the situation. He’s back in practice and ready for Saturday’s game. The Cowboys expect more from their previous first-round pick this season.
Despite recent additions to the defensive tackle position, a standout performance from Smith on Saturday would set a positive tone for the regular season.
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Owner and General Manager Jerry Jones confirmed earlier this week that Trey Lance will be a part of the Cowboys’ 53-man roster ahead of the 2024 regular season.
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Lance delivered an impressive performance last Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Cowboys’ second-year quarterback completed 15 out of 23 passes for 151 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had 7 carries for 34 yards and scored a rushing touchdown in the 27-12 victory.
The backup quarterback has shown a lot of optimism in the preseason so far. While his spot on the roster is secured, he could still potentially challenge Cooper Rush for the primary backup role behind Dak Prescott.
MORE: Cowboys’ most important remaining position battle entering preseason finale
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Cooper Beebe’s preseason performance has been a game-changer. Starting camp as a backup, he now has a real chance at Week 1 starting duties.
His standout play in the first game opened doors, and he’s taken every chance to shine with the first team. If he maintains his snapping accuracy, this former Kansas State guard could be anchoring the Cowboys’ offensive line for the foreseeable future.
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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jason Robertson had two goals and an assist, and the Dallas Stars beat the Anaheim Ducks 8-3 on Friday night for their third straight win.
Roope Hintz and Thomas Harley each had a goal and an assist, and Oskar Bäck, Sam Steel, Ilya Lybushkin and Adam Erne also scored for the Stars. who are an NHL-best 13-2-4 on the road. Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen each had two assists, and Casey DeSmith had 23 saves.
Ryan Poehling, Beckett Sennecke and Mikael Granlund scored for the Ducks, who have lost four of five. Lukas Dostal gave up four goals on seven shots before he was pulled with 5:41 left in the first period. Petr Mrazek came on and stopped 14 of the 18 shots he faced the rest of the way.
The Stars’ eight-goal output tied a season high, matching their 8-3 win at Edmonton on Nov. 25, and was the most the Ducks have given up.
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Bäck gave the Stars a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal 2:37 into the game after the Ducks turned the puck over behind their net.
Poehling tied it 55 seconds later, scoring in close on the rebound of a point shot by Radko Gudas.
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Hintz put Dallas back ahead at 4:42, getting a pass from Robertson in the slot, sliding backwards and firing a shot past Dostal for his 11th.
Steel pushed the Stars’ lead to 3-1 with 7:19 left in the first, scoring past Dostal while crashing into the net and dislodging it. The goal was confirmed after a review.
Harley made it a three-goal lead 1:38 later as he got a pass from Rantanen and scored from the right circle.
Robertson scored in front on a power play with 8:50 remaining in the second, and then put a backhander past Mrazek from the right circle 4 minutes later to make it 6-1. It gave Robertson a team-leading 22 goals.
Erne made it a six-goal lead with 1:30 left in the middle period.
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After Sennecke pulled the Ducks back within five 1:01 into the third, Lybushkin got his first of the season 41 seconds later to extend the Stars’ lead to 8-2. Granlund capped the scoring with 5:38 remaining.
Up next
Stars: Host Toronto on Sunday.
Ducks: Host Columbus on Saturday.
Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Don Stone, a Dallas civic leader and strong supporter of the arts, died on Sunday. He was 96.
Angela Stone, Don’s youngest child, said her father was one of a kind, a rare mix of sweet and tough.
“He was just the most wonderful man I ever knew, just generous to a fault, smart, charming. He influenced so many people,” she said.
Stone gave widely across North Texas, including $500,000 to endow college scholarships for musically gifted Dallas ISD students. Stone also held leadership positions at several North Texas arts organizations, including the Dallas Public Library, Voices of Change, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Fine Arts Chamber Players, Orchestra of New Spain, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, Shakespeare Dallas and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
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“He just believed that all of our lives would be so much poorer without music, art and theater. He said in our country we have the freedom to support whatever we want and that we needed to support the arts so that they would continue to exist,” Stone said.
Stone, a businessman who lived in Turtle Creek, worked for Sanger Harris, which later became Macy’s. He was a 2018 TACA Silver Cup Award honoree for his arts and culture advocacy in North Texas.
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Maura Sheffler, president and executive director of The Arts Community Alliance (TACA), said in a statement that Stone’s legacy will continue to inspire the local arts community.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Don Stone, a devoted champion of the arts whose leadership and generosity,” she wrote.
Stone’s wife of over 72 years, Norma, died in June. She was the one who first got her husband involved in the arts, according to their daughter Angela.
Michelle Miller Burns, the DSO’s president and CEO, said the Stones had a profound impact on the DSO.
“It is with such a heavy heart that I received news of Don Stone’s passing earlier this week. Don was a devoted patron, a donor and a board member of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and his leadership and generosity really have helped shape the Dallas symphony across five decades,” she said.
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In 1980, Stone served as DSO’s chairman of the Board of Governors and helped launch efforts to raise $80 million for Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center and secure architect I.M. Pei.
In 1997, the Stones launched the Norma and Don Stone New Music Fund and committed $1 million to continuously support new works. Some of the works supported through the fund include this year’s world premiere of Angélica Negrón’s requiem For Everything You Keep Losing. The fund also supported a Grammy award-winning violin concerto by Aaron Jay Kernis co-commissioned with the Seattle Symphony, Toronto Symphony and Melbourne Symphony.
“I think it is rare for a couple who so firmly believes in the future of classical music and creating opportunities for new musical voices to be heard to really put support behind that in a meaningful way to fuel that process, to ensure that it can come to fruition,” Burns said.
She said the DSO will continue the Stones’ legacy by commissioning new works through the Norma and Don Stone New Music Fund.
Stone is survived by his children Michael, Lisa and Angela, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The family will have a private funeral.
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Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.
This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, Communities Foundation of Texas, The University of Texas at Dallas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA retain full editorial control of Arts Access’ journalism.
Following the Pistons’ big win over the Boston Celtics, Omari and Bryce break down the improvements they’ve seen from the franchise star player.
DALLAS — A late comeback attempt fell short for the Detroit Pistons.
They fell to the Dallas Mavericks in overtime, 116-114, after recovering from a third-period 18-point deficit. A dunk by Anthony Davis gave the Mavericks the lead for good with 1:32 to play in overtime.
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Cade Cunningham (29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists) missed a short jumper with 7 seconds left that would’ve tied the game at 116, and Jalen Duren (17 points, 13 rebounds) couldn’t convert two offensive rebounds into a tip-in basket. Davis corralled the rebound with 0.9 seconds left, and the Mavericks called timeout.
INJURY UPDATE: Duncan Robinson exits vs Dallas Mavericks
The Pistons fouled Davis after the inbounds pass with a foul to give. Daniss Jenkins, who scored 11 points after halftime, stole the second inbounds pass with 0.6 seconds left but didn’t have enough time to get a shot off.
The Pistons trailed by 18 points with five minutes to play in the third quarter. Their bench unit was instrumental during a 31-11 run that gave the Pistons the lead again, 99-97, midway through the fourth quarter. They held Dallas to 38.5% shooting and forced nine turnovers in the second half.
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No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg gave his Mavericks the lead, 110-109, with under 20 seconds to play with a midrange jumper. Isaiah Stewart was fouled by Davis on the other end with 3.4 seconds left, and he split the trip to the line to tie the game at 110. Klay Thompson missed a floater at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.
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‘Dallas’ unit leads Detroit back from big deficit
Down 86-68 with 4:57 to play in the third quarter, coach J.B. Bickerstaff looked to the end of his bench for a spark. Jenkins, Marcus Sasser and Paul Reed checked into the game for the first time in consecutive order, joining Ron Holland and Javonte Green. The Pistons have a Dallas-centric roster — Holland, Sasser and Jenkins are all from the city, and Cunningham is from nearby Arlington.
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They led an 11-3 run to cut the deficit to 10, tallying four steals during the stretch — two for Green and one each for Jenkins and Reed. Cunningham checked in for Green to open the fourth quarter, and the run continued. A 3-pointer from Jenkins, coast-to-coast layup by Holland and midrange jumper from Jenkins extended the run to 21-7, cutting the deficit to 93-89 with under 10 minutes to play.
As he has done several times this season, Jenkins rose to the moment in the final period. An entry pass from Jenkins to Holland created an open layup to slash Dallas’ lead to two, and Jenkins made a layup over three Mavericks defenders to tie the game at 95 with 7:46 remaining and push the Pistons’ run to 27-9.
With 59 seconds left in the fourth, a pair of free throws from Jenkins extended the Pistons’ lead to 3, 109-106. He played 11 minutes and 32 seconds in the final period, second only to Cunningham, and overtime.
Ausar Thompson ejected in second quarter
The Pistons lost Thompson — their primary defender on Flagg — midway through the second period after an exchange with an official.
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With 5:09 remaining before halftime, Thompson tied up Mavericks guard Ryan Nembhard under the rim and was whistled for a foul. Thompson didn’t like the call and got in the ref’s face, and was instantly ejected. NBA rules make it an auto-ejection when a player makes physical contact with an official.
It was a strong start for Thompson prior to the ejection, as he had eight points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal in nine minutes of play. Stewart entered for him in the second quarter.
In all, it was a rough night for the Pistons regarding the officials. Cunningham was whistled for a tech late in the second quarter after disagreeing with a call, and Bickerstaff was whistled for a tech during halftime after arguing with an official.
Duncan Robinson exits with left knee injury
With 11:08 to play in the third quarter, Robinson suffered a knee-to-knee collision with Mavericks wing Naji Marshall. Robinson limped off of the floor and was initially ruled “questionable” to return until he was downgraded to “out” in the final period.
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Robinson finished with two points and two rebounds, shooting 1-for-7 overall and 0-for-5 from 3. He missed two games in early December with a right ankle sprain.
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