Heading into this final preseason game, which bubble players truly need to have a good showing against the Chargers to make the team? Are there any veterans teetering on the edge? – Jay Harris/Little Rock, AR
Nick Eatman: This is a good time to point out how much I hate the term "meaningless game" when referring to the final preseason game. Tell that to Hunter Luepke, who was staring a spot on the practice squad in the face until he played well in the third game last year and ended up on the 53-man roster. I've seen it play out like this many times over the years and this probably won't be an exception. I look at the wide receiver position first. These guys like Tyron Billy-Johnson and Jalen Cropper have had good camps but need to do something in the game. At running back, it's going to be a tough decision for the Cowboys, but a guy like Malik Davis really needs to play well. If Deuce Vaughn gets in the game, he'll need to shine. Tight end is going to be tough to cut down. Brevyn Spann-Ford can help himself with a big game. And let's stay on the offense with the line. Matt Waletzko and Josh Ball have been here for a while. This is a great time for them to stand out.
Patrik: It is indeed now or never for many players on the 90-man roster, because nearly 40 of them will receive unpleasant news from the Cowboys at the end of August. There are several camp stars who have yet to make a mark in the preseason, and with only one more shot at doing so, I'm going to look in the direction of Tyron Billy-Johnson as one example: having stolen the show in practices but also absent from the stat line in both preseason games — also mostly true for Jalen Cropper —and with Kelvin Harmon making a very real push forward. Eric Scott has shown strong improvement, but the Cowboys traded for Andrew Booth and Kemon Hall is making highlights in preseason games, so Scott has to punch back against the Chargers. Peyton Hendershot has yet to play in a game this month and has been absent from practice several times over due to a shoulder issue, and it's unknown if he'll take the field on Saturday but, if he does, he needs to do all he can to hold off a guy like Brevyn Spann-Ford (John Stephens Jr. is making this team). Again, it's now or never for many, but those are a few who come to mind that need to put good things on film this coming Saturday.
