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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Every player who was on the field for the Dallas Cowboys when they met the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday had something to prove. It marked the second time on a three-day span in which the teams squared off against each other, but the first was a joint scrimmage in Oxnard that featured the first-teamers, while the second was the preseason opener that did not.
And that meant there were plenty of reps to go around for rookies and others hoping to show the Cowboys they deserve a seat at the table when final roster cutdowns get underway to end the month of August.
There were also those, like linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and tight end John Stephens Jr., who took the next step in their return from a torn ACL by taking the field at all — albeit on a pitch count.
But who truly stood out in LA? Well, I'm glad you asked.
[Note: These are unranked.]
Markquese Bell, S
He must've been bitten by a radioactive spider ahead of this contest because Bell's spidey sense was in full effect against the Rams. The veteran safety turned linebacker turned safety was all over the field and in position for what was nearly three interceptions before halftime, reeling in one of them — the first of the game — and adding it to his team-high tally of tackles (9 combined before the third quarter even began). Bell looks ready to be a force in 2024.
Brandon Aubrey, K
There's no way to leave Butter off of this list. After all, he accounted for 100 percent of the Cowboys offense against the Rams and his only miss was a 60-yard heat check in the second half, followed up by completing a 52-yarder with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. There's nothing that indicates Aubrey will be anything short of what he was as a rookie in 2023: outstandingly accurate and with a strong boot to match. And as the Cowboys begin to unleash him in the regular season on kickoffs, per the new rules that will allow his soccer background to come into play, he'll only be that much more of a weapon for Dallas.
Eric Scott, CB
This matchup, as all preseason games tend to be, was a test for the young talent across the board and that includes Scott in his battle to take the leap in Year 2 behind a still-dominant Jourdan Lewis. Scott has begun stacking good days in Oxnard and he was targeted often by Stetson Bennett, eventually making him pay with the former Bulldog's second INT on the day late in the second quarter and returning it 26 yards.
Jalen Brooks, WR
Wasting no time whatsoever was Brooks, who is locked in one of the most heated position battles in all of Cowboys' camp. The second-year receiver took full advantage of his limited opportunities as a rookie last year and has parlayed that into another electric training camp, but he's not simply a practice superstar. He's primed to deliver big plays on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays as well, evidenced by the 43-yard reception from Cooper Rush on the Cowboys' first drive of the game.
Cooper Rush, QB
Speaking of Rush, there was no plan for him to remain in the game for an extended period of time, considering he's still very much the QB2 at the moment and, as such, was designated to take on that group from the Rams before exiting to allow Trey Lance the remainder of the game; but Rush didn't take long to remind everyone he's Cool Hand Luke with the aforementioned deep ball to Brooks and completing two of his only three passes on the day (109.7 rating).
Rico Dowdle, RB
Not unlike Rush, there wasn't going to be a lot of Dowdle playing in this game but, when he got the ball, he looked fantastic. On his first handoff from scrimmage, he found a shrinking lane and skinnied himself to get through it and to the second level. He took only three handoffs before exiting but averaged 4.7 yards per carry in the process, and there is little debate at the moment about his load-sharing with Ezekiel Elliott (who sat out vs. Rams) this coming season.
Tyler Guyton, OT
How one goes from missing several practices with an illness to being a game-time decision to entering the contest and throwing 300+ pound men out of the club is beyond impressive, and that's precisely what Guyton did to the Rams. Chuma Edoga got the start due to Guyton's illness, but the rookie first-round pick pitched his would-be pass rusher out of SoFi Stadium on the Cowboys' second drive of the game to allow Trey Lance to rattle off a 19-yard run on third-and-10 — being pulled shortly thereafter.
Mazi Smith, DT
Go back and watch the first several drives that included Mazi Smith and you'll see plenty that won't make the highlight reel. Smith got plenty of push up the middle and was often responsible for taking on double teams that helped others disrupt one more than one occasion. He was also seen chasing down a running back from behind on the Rams' first drive and that kind of effort is something the Cowboys have to absolutely love seeing from their nose tackle.
Jalen Cropper, WR
Not to be forgotten in this battle for WR3/4, as if he could be based upon his camp performance, was Cropper against the Rams. Brooks made the big play early on, but there was no need to run up the snap count on him and, as such, Cropper began to eat hearty in the second quarter and beyond. He helped Trey Lance move the chains and, if not for an errant throw on fourth down into the end zone, would've had a touchdown early in the contest.
Chauncey Golston, DL
One of the defenders who benefited from Mazi Smith's push was Golston, able to penetrate from the 3-tech (right of center) on multiple occasions when the former Wolverine was in the game. Golston didn't stop his impact when Smith was out of the game though, and he'll be leaned upon heavily to help make the DT depth chart whole going forward; and could likely be asked to rush off of the edge at times as well. Golston will likely jump off of the film during evaluation of the defensive line this week.
Nick Vigil, LB
Signing with an NFL team and being thrown onto the field for them less than a week later doesn't exactly scream high odds of success, but Vigil looked extremely comfortable and that's no coincidence when you consider his pre-existing relationship with both Cowboys' run game coordinator Paul Guenther and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Vigil is still acclimating to what the Cowboys are asking of him this August on defense, but his special teams play was exceptional in Los Angeles.
Julius Wood, LB
While Vigil was making key tackles on special teams, Wood was making his presence felt in the third quarter against Bennett. The undrafted rookie linebacker has now gone from grabbing the first interception of training camp in Oxnard to reeling one in during his first-ever NFL preseason game, making it three on the day to the point against the former two-time national champion. It was already a rough showing for Bennett, some chunk plays notwithstanding, and Wood made sure it got worse before it was all said-and-done.
Brock Mogensen, LB
If one interception is good, what is four? It's sensational is what it is. Mike Zimmer was not kidding around with Bennett on Sunday, leaving the rookie seeing ghosts on his own field. Having already thrown three interceptions to the Cowboys, Bennett dropped back and attempted to complete a crossing route before he realized far too late that Mogensen was in position to ruin his day even beyond how it had already been spoiled. Mogensen, an undrafted rookie, picked it off and ran it back 23 yards before he was taken down. The linebacker corps in Dallas is looking quite deep nowadays.
