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The Cowboys begin their 2018 preseason period this Thursday on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.
It’s always a treat when Dallas and San Francisco square off, even if it’s just an exhibition match. It’s a historic rivalry and a meeting of two of the NFL’s marquee franchises.
As it is only the first preseason game of the season there’s not likely going to be much we can discern from this game about the Cowboys (or 49ers for that matter) starters.
Here it is, per the San Francisco gamebook, the first Dallas depth chart of the season. Let’s try not to overreact.
Offense
WR: Allen Hurns, Michael Gallup, Noah Brown, Ricky Jeune
LT: Tyron Smith, Cameron Fleming, Bryce Johnson
LG: Connor Williams, Kadeem Edwards, Dustin Stanton
C: Travis Frederick, Joe Looney, Marcus Martin
RG: Zack Martin, Marcus Martin, Damien Mama
RT: La’el Collins, Chaz Green, Jake Campos, Korren Kirven
TE: Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin, Rico Gathers, Dalton Schultz
WR: Cole Beasley, Tavon Austin, Deonte Thompson, Marchie Murdock
WR: Terrance Williams, Lance Lenoir, K.D. Cannon, Mekale McKay
QB: Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Mike White, Dalton Sturm
RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith, Darius Jackson, Bo Scarbrough, Jordan Chunn
FB: Jamize Olawale
Defense
DE: Tyrone Crawford, Taco Charlton, Charles Tapper, Austin Larkin
DT: Datone Jones, Brian Price, Richard Ash
DT: Jihad Ward, Daniel Ross, Antwaun Woods, Lewis Neal
DE: Demarcus Lawrence, Kony Ealy, Dorance Armstrong, Joby Saint Fleur
SLB: Damien Wilson, Justin March-Lillard, Chris Covington, Eric PInkins
MLB: Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Tre’von Johnson, Joel Lanning
WLB: Sean Lee, Joe Thomas, Kyle Queiro
CB: Byron Jones, Jourdan Lewis, Marquez White, Donovan Olumba
CB: Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Duke Thomas
CB: Chidobe Awuzie, Duke Thomas, Charvarius Ward
SS: Jeff Heath, Kavon Frazier, Jameill Showers
FS: Xavier Woods, Marqueston Huff, Tyree Robinson, Kam Kelly
Special Teams
P: Chris Jones, Brett Maher
K: Dan Bailey, Brett Maher
LS: L.P. Ladouceur, Scott Daly
H: Chris Jones
KOR: Jourdan Lewis, Duke Thomas, Darius Jackson
PR: Duke Thomas, Lance Lenoir, Jourdan Lewis
Unsurprisingly Connor Williams is starting at left guard for the Cowboys. Darius Jackson did get the nod over Bo Scarbrough which will likely shock some people, but the truth is Darius is a better option as of now.
Many have suspected that Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin are the favorites at tight end and this first depth chart corroborates that idea. Rico Gathers is listed third so rookie Dalton Schultz still has some work to do apparently.
Also a little surprising: Kony Ealy is listed as a second-stringer ahead of both Dorance Armstrong and Charles Tapper.
Jason Garrett has said throughout training camp that the Cowboys aren’t going to focus on having Tavon Austin handle returns throughout the preseason. We’ve seen Jourdan Lewis get work there before and he’s getting the nod once more. In fact, Lewis is seemingly the Cowboys utility player to plug-and-play wherever they need him to based off of this as he’s the immediate backup on the outside and at slot corner as well as apparent return man.
What are your thoughts, BTB?