The Dallas Cowboys are set to kick off the 2023 preseason in a matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium on Saturday.
The teams last played in December, when the Jaguars pulled out a come-from-behind win late in the season, helping propel them to an AFC South championship.
The stakes are not nearly as high this time, and few starters will likely take the field. Dallas has some lingering injuries to monitor as the season approaches, while Jacksonville has said it will play its starters for “a series or two.”
While many starters typically do not play in the preseason opener, the game provides opportunities for younger players to show off their skills and for fans and the rest of the league to see the improvements some have made. For the Cowboys, that means giving their young stable of running backs more repetitions and seeing what they have in some young defenders like Jabril Cox, Kelvin Joseph, Neville Gallimore, and first-round pick Mazi Smith.
Fans hoping for a real glimpse of the new Mike McCarthy-led offense may have to wait before seeing any substantial changes. While teams need to get the reps to gel, play-calling in the preseason is usually pretty vanilla since teams typically do not want to reveal too much to their opponents before the regular season.
“I think, like most head coaches, you play in the preseason, it’s about lining the guys up and letting them play,” McCarthy told the media before Thursday’s practice. “That’ll be our focus in these preseason games. We’re not going to be doing any deceptive-type things.”
Eyes will also be on the Cowboys’ backup quarterback competition between Will Grier and Cooper Rush, some of the additions at receiver, and the offensive line as All-Pro guard Zack Martin continues his holdout. Grier and Rush will likely get the bulk of the snaps under center while Josh Ball, Matt Farniok, and maybe even Brock Hoffman fight for a spot in Martin’s absence.
“There’s a lot of moving parts,” Grier told the media Thursday. “…When it gets to the game, it’s just study, prepare as best you can, and just go play. If you make a mistake, shake it off and keep rolling. That’s all you can do in the preseason.”
Saturday’s game also brings the debut of Plano native Brandon Aubrey, the former MLS and USFL player who seems to have won the Cowboys’ kicking competition after the release of Tristan Vizcaino earlier this week. Aubrey was consistent in the USFL for two seasons but has yet to play in an actual NFL game setting.
“We’re going to kick it and kick it a lot,” McCarthy replied when asked about his approach with Aubrey in the preseason. “It’s important to get him the reps.
Saturday’s preseason opener is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. CT.