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.
MORE: Cowboys vs. Chargers preview: injuries, odds, key players to watch
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.
MORE: Dallas Cowboys 53-man roster prediction: Wide Receiver
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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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Former American tennis professionals John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, John Isner, and Sam Querrey will play in the 2026 Dallas Open All-American Classic, the tournament announced Monday.
The exhibition event will take place at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2026 ahead of the tournament’s main draw beginning on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.
“We’re thrilled to bring together four beloved American tennis stars for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of entertainment,” said Dallas Open tournament director Peter Lebedevs in a news release.
McEnroe, 66, is a former world No. 1 in both doubles and singles and the only men’s player to ever hold both simultaneously. He has won multiple major titles in both with 7 singles majors, 9 doubles majors and one mixed doubles major.
Roddick, 43, is a former world No. 1 who won his only career major at the 2003 U.S. Open. He played in four other major finals (one at the U.S. Open and three at Wimbledon) losing them all to his rival Roger Federer.
“The Dallas Open has quickly become one of the premier events on the ATP Calendar,” Roddick said. ”I’m honored to play alongside these guys and be part of the night. We all know how to compete and have fun on the court, which is what this night is all about.”
Isner, 40, is a Dallas resident and former top-10 singles player with 16 career ATP titles. He was known for his powerful serve, which averaged about 140 mph, but which went over 155 mph on occasion. He’s also played in the longest tennis match of all time, winning over five sets and 183 games against Nicolas Mahut that took 11 hours and five minutes across three days at Wimbledon in 2010.
Querrey, 38, peaked at No. 11 in the men’s singles rankings, winning 10 career titles and having a career-best majors finish at the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2017.
Tennis fans will also recognize the quartet from their contributions in the media after retirement. McEnroe is a prominent tennis commentator for ESPN at major tournaments. Roddick hosts the “Served” podcast while Isner and Querrey are part of the “Nothing Major Show.”
Tickets for the exhibition are available with prices around $100.
The ATP-500 level Dallas Open tournament is set to feature top-ranked Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton as well as top-level Europeans in Casper Ruud and Grigor Dimitrov. It will take place from Feb. 7 to Feb. 15, 2026 in Frisco.
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The Dallas Wings once again have the first overall pick after winning the 2026 Draft Lottery on Sunday evening. The 2026 WNBA Draft isn’t scheduled until Monday, April 13th, so there is a lot of time for the Wings to evaluate the draft class, but also explore other options for the pick.
Could the Dallas Wings explore trading the first overall pick? It’s certainly not out of the question, and Wings GM Curt Miller is at least open to the idea.
Drake Keeler of IX Sports reported that Wings GM Curt Miller said he he “already received more calls about potential trades for the #1 pick in the upcoming draft than he did in the lead-up to the 2025 draft.” But a lot of that is due to the talent available at the top of the draft.
“The Cailtin Clark draft, there was not going to be a trade, Paige [Bueckers] was not going to be traded, but it will be interesting, and it makes our job fun to listen to those phone calls that come in for the #1 pick. And we’ll do what’s best for our franchise.” Miller said.
Miller is saying that every team knew that they wouldn’t have traded the Paige Bueckers pick last year, and the Indiana Fever wouldn’t have traded the Caitlin Clark pick. Those were generational superstars from the moment they entered college, and the star power and popularity alone would’ve made it hard to trade those picks. The Indiana Fever are the most popular team in the WNBA because of Clark, and no team saw more social media growth this year than the Wings because of Bueckers.
Curt Miller said he’s already received more calls about potential trades for the #1 pick in the upcoming draft than he did in the leadup to the 2025 draft.
— Drake (@DrakeKeeler) November 24, 2025
READ MORE: Dallas Wings win WNBA Draft lottery, will pick No. 1 for second straight year
As of now, there is no player that is a lock to go first overall, but there are plenty of players who could be considered, including Lauren Betts, Awa Fam, Azzi Fudd, Ta’Niya Latson, and Olivia Miles. If it stays like that all year, and unless the Wings fall in love with a particular player, trading down a few spots may be a great opportunity to gain future draft capital.
If they enter the draft saying “We’d be happy with any of these three players,” they should trade back to the third pick, if the opportunity presents itself and the capital makes sense.
They could also use the pick to trade for a readymade star. A lot of players around the WNBA are entering free agency this offseason, which Miller says having Bueckers and the first pick will be a huge draw in free agency, but the Wings can also be aggressive in trades because of the pick.
READ MORE: Paige Bueckers praised by Cooper Flagg after support at recent Mavericks games
Stick with WingsGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Wings throughout the offseason.
We’ve got a good old-fashioned NFC East rivalry matchup in store for “America’s Game of the Week” on Sunday.
The Eagles (8-2) and the Cowboys (4-5-1) meet up in Texas for the latest installment of one of the NFL’s top rivalries. Philadelphia won the first game between these two teams to open the season back in September, taking down Dallas in a game that was much closer than many expected.
However, the Eagles have largely looked the part of a defending Super Bowl champion since that game. They enter Sunday’s tilt as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Cowboys, however, have had a bumpy year. They have a tough hill to climb to make the postseason, but it seems possible with newcomer Quinnen Williams leading an improved defensive unit.
Will Philly maintain control of the NFC, or can Dallas start a winning streak and make a playoff push?
Follow along for Sunday’s highlights!
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