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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Texas has reading program

Re: “Texas must invest in early reading,” by Bill Hammond, Monday Opinion.

Hammond, a former Texas state representative, chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, writes about the need to bring reading academies to Texas. He based that on the miracle in Mississippi, where reading academies have helped elevate reading scores for the last several years.

In fact, Texas does have a Reading Academy requirement. House Bill 3, passed during the 86th Texas Legislature, established the requirement that all teacher candidates who teach students in grades pre-K-6 demonstrate proficiency in the science of teaching reading on a new, standalone certification exam.

This includes principals and elementary math and science teachers as well. This requirement took effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

Knowing this, I urge Mr. Hammond to ask a different question now. Has there been an impact on reading since the RA requirement was implemented? The “Mississippi Miracle” may be happening already in Texas.

Unfortunately, those of us in the education business know that any new curriculum takes more than a year or two to be fully embraced by teachers and then effectively implemented.

Rebecca Good, Allen

Continue backing dancers

Re: “Backers rally for fired dancers,” Monday Metro story.

Elizabeth Myong did a fine job of covering the rally for the fired Dallas Black Dance Theatre dancers, and it was wonderful to see the solidarity from labor, retirees and the community at large. Labor and civil rights struggles are not won in a single day, though. All of us must continue backing the dancers until they prevail, and I’m sure we will.

Gene Lantz, Dallas

Believe the truth, too

Re: “Whatever happened to telling the truth? As King taught me, our nation must relearn the danger of lies,” by Peter Johnson, Sunday Opinion.

Johnson wrote about the importance of lies. And truth. I’d like to share another level of thought concerning the human condition. In East of Eden, John Steinbeck wrote: “An unbelieved truth can hurt a man much more than a lie.” I offer this truth as an addendum to Johnson’s writing.

Tom Agase, Highland Village

A dual stand on abortion

Re: “Many women oppose abortion,” by Keith Bernard Marx, Wednesday Letters.

You can be a woman who wants control over her own body and still be anti-abortion.

Mindy Vinton, Dallas/Oak Lawn

Substance behind dog whistle

Re: “There’s the dog whistle,” by Holly Skaggs, Sunday Letters.

In response to this letter, it’s important to clarify that while the GOP campaigns may not explicitly use the term “Christian nationalism,” the ideology is evident in their rhetoric and policies. Donald Trump, for example, has made several statements that align with Christian nationalist themes, such as promising to combat anti-Christian bias with a federal task force and framing political struggles as spiritual battles.

Moreover, at the Texas GOP convention, leaders pushed for policies promoting Christian values, like mandatory Bible teachings in public schools, which is a clear example of Christian nationalism in practice, even if the term isn’t used directly.

Dismissing this as mere journalistic bias ignores the real connections between current GOP rhetoric and Christian nationalist ideology. The claim that “Christian nationalism” is simply a “dog whistle” accusation overlooks these substantive issues.

Alan D. Bryan, Richardson

Cowboys grow with mediocrity

Re: “Team is league’s 1st valued at over $10B — Franchise is worth over $2.5B more than Rams, No. 2 on Sportico list,” Aug. 14 news story.

Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 for $150 million. Today, the franchise is worth more than $10 billion. Without a doubt, Jones is an amazing businessman. He had great success in the early years with Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. Since then, he has nothing to brag about. There is no incentive when your assets are growing exponentially with a mediocre product.

It is time for Jerry Jones to take a page from President Joe Biden’s book and get out of football management and player negotiations. He should hire a good general manager who can take us back to the glory days of Tex Schramm and Tom Landry. He should use his newfound wealth to pay top talent and bring back championships to our community.

Rudra Nadhan, Arlington

Financial lock on Arlington

Someone please, remind me why the Dallas Cowboys (and any other professional sports franchise) need taxpayer funding to build stadiums for a private entertainment business.

I believe the Dallas Cowboys’ financial lock on Arlington is so absolute that residents who front busy streets on game days are not allowed to park fans cars and receive a few bucks lest they endanger the Cowboy parking lot monopoly.

It requires an ironic sense of humor to justify socialism for the rich and free enterprise for the poor.

Matt Wenthold, Denton

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5:54 PM on Aug 22, 2024 CDT