The Dallas Cowboys' preseason victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, 17-7, doesn’t count in the record books, but it was still important. It allowed the team to see young players and depth pieces in real game action, evaluations key to finalizing the 53-man roster.
Some players make mistakes and drop their own stock, like Traeshon Holden fumbling a punt inside the 10-yard line. It was so egregious, Holden was released on Monday, allowing head coach Brian Schottenheimer to send a clear message to the locker room. Some guys like Malik Davis are what they are, and even a good game doesn’t move the needle much, but some play well and raise their stock on the team. On rare occasions, a breakout game occurs, setting the team and fanbase on fire. UDFA wideout Camden Brown accomplished that feat in his first preseason contest.
WR Camden Brown
Camden Brown has risen from an undrafted free agent (UDFA) to a player getting some snaps with the first-team offense. He was in a battle with last year's training camp darling and fellow UDFA, Holden, plus veteran receivers Jonathan Mingo and Marquez Valdez-Scantling. Still, he elevated himself to near certainty of making the team after his performance against Seattle. He caught all three targets for 62 yards and two spectacular touchdowns. At 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, with under 4.4 speed, Brown looks to be a legit playmaker to add to possibly the best wide receiver room in the NFL.
TE Michael Trigg
Michael Trigg could have the most natural gifts in the tight end room for Dallas. He should battle for a roster spot, but Dallas has their top two at the position set with Jake Ferguson and Brevyn Spann-Ford. That leaves likely just one spot, and former second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker has plenty of physical gifts, special teams play, and experience to be a solid third tight end. Trigg has to show up in games, and he did in his first attempt, catching a team-high four passes for 30 yards. He caught two passes on each of the team's touchdown drives.
What raised his stock though was his ability to identify and block rush attempts effectively. Blocking and special-teams play will be key to his making the 53.
WR Jonathan Mingo
Many Dallas fans have written off Mingo as a waste of a fourth-round pick, used to acquire him via trade in the lost 2024 season, but the team might still have a place for him.
As amazing as Brown was, Mingo also had a big game. He was Howell’s go-to guy early, hitting Mingo on slants in tight coverage for first-down receptions. The play that could get Dallas to consider a sixth receiver though was on special teams.
Seattle got a big return and Mingo made a touchdown-saving tackle, but it was the effort he made to do so. He was one of the first people down by the returner, and when they broke free, Mingo went flying to catch up and make a shoestring tackle. It’s not making two explosive touchdown receptions, but coaches will be just as pumped about the effort Mingo put in on special teams to save the team points.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Stock Up: Fringe Cowboys on offense make big case for 53-man roster