Three Dallas Cowboys to look for in the final preseason game of 2021

Sunday signals the final preseason game of 2021 for the Dallas Cowboys. After the Cowboys finish with the Jacksonville Jaguars, things get real and all focus turns to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While many, if not all, of the household names will not suit up Sunday afternoon, there are still many intriguing roster battles going on. The bottom line is Tuesday afternoon signals final cuts to the 53-man roster and this game represents the last chance to make an impression on the coaching staff as some fight for their football lives. For others, it’s a chance to carve out a significant role.

Although the list of players to keep an eye on could be extensive, here are the three players to focus on Sunday afternoon.

Malik Hooker

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Malik Hooker is an interesting player to watch for a few reasons. The talent is undoubtedly there. The first-round draft pick has had an up and down career to say the least. When he’s been on the field, the play has been impressive, however injuries have really derailed his career to this point. Hooker is coming off the COVID-19 list which saw him miss some time during the week, but is cleared now and will look to get some work against the Jaguars.

Hooker looks to be in good shape to be on the Cowboys roster. The talent is too good to ignore. The reason to watch him this week is the limited reps he’s had since coming off his torn Achilles and how important it is for him and the staff to see him put together more film. Hooker came into camp as a late signee so already off the bat he was behind the eight ball compared to his teammates. More reps and opportunities will be key for Hooker as he looks to shake the rust off as he looks to make an impact on this Cowboys revamped safety unit.

Simi Fehoko

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They say the best ability is availability, and injury creates opportunity. That’s what Simi Fehoko had in front of him with the injury of teammate and competition, Malik Turner. It looks as if Turner is making his way back from his toe injury, but it’s coming down to the wire and the two of them will have to use this final preseason game to try and separate themselves from one another.

The Cowboys may or may not be going six deep at wide receiver so there is uncertainty if the position they are fighting for is even an available spot to begin with. However, as a draft pick in this year class, the Cowboys would love to see Fehoko take a step forward in this last game. Many believe Fehoko will not clear waivers if cut as it there was much interest in him from other teams during the draft process. The Cowboys have a decision to make on his roster spot, and Fehoko can help them make that decision a bit easier with a solid performance against the Jaguars.

Bradlee Anae

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Bradlee Anae has an opportunity to make an impact on this team this year, and for years to come. You can never have enough pass rushers and Anae possesses a nice skill set when it comes to rushing the quarterback. It’s believed that Anae’s roster spot is at fringe status, however if he is able to continue to show growth as a pas rusher, and being a willing member of special teams, it’s not unreasonable to think that we may be speaking of Anae in the same tone that many are speaking of Dorance Armstrong in this year. His potential and growth is something that staff has enjoyed monitoring. However, potential at some point needs to turn into production.

Anae, much like other fringe players, will see a ton of reps Sunday and will need to take advantage of them. Pass rushers are hard to come by and he has shown flashes that he can affect the QB and willing to be impactful in the run game. He just needs to find a way to put it all together for Mike McCarthy and staff to ensure his future is here in Dallas.

Every player you see on the field on Sunday has a story and will be fighting for a job. The intrigue as a true football fan is there to be consumed. Players who will be putting their bodies on the line to fight for a dream they’ve waited their whole lives for. Some of which will end that day, for others the story is just being written. Either way, there are quite a few Cowboys worthy of keeping your eye on to see how they can help the 2021 Dallas Cowboys when they kickoff for real on September 9th.