Category: MLB

A preseason finale is often the time where roster hopefuls dominate the snap counts and a team’s personnel crew get insight on who to keep and who to cut when NFL teams go from 90-man rosters to the 53-man version for the regular season.

For rookie head coach Klint Kubiak, though, the exhibition slate against the San Francisco 49ers was an opportune time to view his roster as a whole. The first-team offensive line played more than one offensive series, as did assumed starting quarterback Kirk Cousins.

On the opposite side of the ball, the lone missing starter was edge rusher Maxx Crosby, but Rob Leonard’s defense played with a sense of urgency and performed much better than what’s been displayed in the two prior preseason tilts.

Eventually, second- and third-string units joined the fray, but Kubiak getting more work with the first-team units is ample for a neophyte head coach. He along with his coaching staff and general manager John Spytek and his player personnel staff will have their work cut out for them over the weekend as NFL teams must meet the Sunday, 3 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) deadline to drastically reduce the roster from 90 to 53.

There’s a particular rookie from the Raiders’ 2026 NFL Draft class that’s emphatically made it known they not only will make the roster but also be a regular contributor on offense: Running back Mike Washington Jr. The 6-foot-2 and 228-pound fourth-round pick (122nd overall) from Arkansas showcased the power, speed, and vision throughout the preseason slate as he had eight carries for 49 yards (6.1 yards per carry average) against the 49ers.

Like former Raiders quarterback and current broadcast analyst Rich Gannon astutely pointed out during the preseason finale, Washington will need to showcase the ability to be a trusted pass protector on obvious passing downs and prove he’s an ample route runner and pass catcher out of the backfield (more on this in an upcoming piece later this weekend).

Combining blocking and receiving will make Washington a versatile option to operate in Kubiak’s offense, especially with starting tailback Ashton Jeanty potentially missing games due to an ankle injury to start the regular season. In total, Washington got 23 totes for 168 yards (7.3 yards per carry average) in preseason action and it’ll be intriguing to see the rookie’s production on his touches in the regular season. In fact, Kubiak indicated Friday that Washington will see the field a lot this season even when Jeanty is fully healthy. It will be interesting to see what kind of carry split the two young tailback share this season.

While the offense failed to get into the end zone, seeing Kubiak’s offense being ran efficiently by Cousins portends to good things when games count in the win-loss record.

Still, Kubiak’s beckoning for a wide receiver to step up and make it known they can be a trusted and productive pass catcher remains very much up in the air. There were standout moments from individuals throughout preseason and it appears Tre Tucker is slated to be WR1, but the hierarchy is still in flux. Free agent addition Jalen Nailor made highlight one-handed catch five-yard catch to dazzle but then had a bullet from No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza clang off both his hands for an interception.

Gannon nailed it on the broadcast. The Raiders need a wide receiver to consistently beat man coverage and get separation. That hasn’t happened quite enough. And when it has happened, the throws aren’t snared in.

Let’s hit the Quick Slants as we prepare for regular season action coming September 13 with a home opener against the Miami Dolphins Week 1:

—Veteran Matt Gay took all the kickoffs and field goal attempts in the preseason finale going 4-for-5 with his miss being a wide left attempt from 54 yards out. His counterpart (and former Raider) Eddie Pineiro was a perfect 6-for-6 for the 49ers. The Raiders’ kicking competition wasn’t really one, was it? Undrafted rookie free agent Kansei Matsuzawa didn’t even get a single attempt. Welp, crow takes like chicken.

—Las Vegas does have the top spot in waiver claims and it’ll be interesting to see how Spytek operates come the flurry of roster moves all 32 teams will make to meet the Sunday deadline of getting down to 53. But it doesn’t end there. Come meeting the mandated 53-man roster comes waiver claims and then building out the 16-man practice squad. Matsuzawa could be an exemption 17th member of that squad based on the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.

—All four of the Raiders quarterbacks — Cousins, Mendoza, Aidan O’Connell, and undrafted free agent Jacob Clark — each notched a throw against the 49ers. Clark two passes were the first in the preseason slate and it’s likely Las Vegas carries maybe only three or even two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.

—Dylan Laube is playing with more confidence on offense, which is a great sign for Las Vegas. The 2024 sixth-round pick rarely saw any offensive snaps the past two season — largely due to his penchant of showcasing butter fingers — has earned carries and receptions including a nifty 12-yard catch-and-run where he slithered between two 49ers defenders for a first down.

—Veteran Patrick Johnson and undrafted free agent Cian Slone present difficult decisions for the Raiders come cut down day. Johnson showed bite as a pass rusher with two sacks in preseason play to go along with run stopping ability and special teams work. Ditto for Slone who showed relentlessness off the edge, too.

—How serious the injury third-round pick Keyron Crawford sustained against the 49ers may dictate both Johnson’s and Slone’s roster chances. Crawford, the 67th overall pick, had a sack in the preseason finale but was injured as he rushed the passer, was brought to the medical tent, and then carted off the field.

—Punter AJ Cole III has been his normally booming self as he sent a trio of boots into orbit for 170 yards (56.7 yards per boot average) with a long of 63 yards. He had one touchback and one punt downed inside the 20-yard line and one of the league’s elite punters is on his A-game already.

Cale Makar is now the highest-paid player in NHL history.

The Colorado Avalanche signed their star defenseman to an eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension Friday, giving Makar a league-record $20.4 million annual average value and keeping him in Colorado through the 2034-35 season. The deal more than doubles his previous $9 million AAV and makes him the first player in NHL history to surpass $20 million per season.

It is a remarkable jump for a league that has seen its salary records climb quickly this summer.

On July 29, Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million extension with the San Jose Sharks. The deal carried an $18.8 million AAV, making the 20-year-old the highest-paid player in the NHL at the time. Celebrini had surpassed Leo Carlsson's $18 million AAV, which had been established just weeks earlier.

Now, less than a month later, Makar has moved the benchmark another $1.6 million higher.

The contract also represents a massive jump for the defenseman market.

Earlier this summer, Bowen Byram signed an eight-year, $100 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, establishing a new record for a defenseman with a $12.5 million AAV. Makar's annual salary is 63.2% higher, pushing the position into an entirely different financial range.

The 27-year-old was entering the final season of the six-year, $54 million contract he signed with Colorado in July 2021. That deal carried a $9 million AAV, meaning Makar's new salary represents a 126.7% increase.

The size of the contract is significant, but Makar's résumé gives the Avalanche plenty of reason to make the investment.

Since entering the NHL in 2019, Makar has won the Calder Trophy, two Norris Trophies, a Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy. He has been named to the NHL First All-Star Team four times and the Second All-Star Team twice, with his four First-Team selections the most in Avalanche/Nordiques history. Only 13 defensemen in NHL history have been selected to at least four First All-Star Teams.

Makar has also produced at a rate rarely seen from a defenseman. He has recorded 507 points in 470 regular-season games, making him one of only three defensemen in NHL history to average at least a point per game over his career. Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey are the other two.

His playoff production has been just as impressive. Makar has 90 points in 90 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including 26 goals. Those 26 postseason goals are the most among active NHL defensemen and tied for 13th all time at the position.

During Colorado's 2022 Stanley Cup run, Makar recorded 29 points in 20 games and became the third-youngest defenseman in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He won the Norris Trophy that same season, joining Bobby Orr and Nicklas Lidstrom as the only players to win both awards in the same season.

Makar, Orr and Brian Leetch remain the only players in NHL history to win the Calder, Norris and Conn Smythe during their careers.

Makar has continued to add to that résumé. During the 2025-26 season, he recorded 20 goals and 79 points in 75 games, leading Colorado's defensemen in goals, assists and points. His 79 points ranked third among NHL defensemen, while his 20 goals ranked sixth.

He finished second in Norris Trophy voting and became just the second player in NHL history to be a finalist for the award in six of his first seven full seasons, joining Orr. Makar also reached 500 career points during the season, doing so in his 467th game. Only Orr, Paul Coffey and Denis Potvin reached the milestone faster among defensemen.

The season before, Makar scored 30 goals and finished with 92 points in 80 games. He won his second Norris Trophy and became the first defenseman since Mike Green in 2008-09 to score 30 goals in a season.

He has now scored at least 20 goals four times and has posted two 90-point seasons, something only six defensemen in NHL history have accomplished.

For Colorado, the decision to make this kind of commitment was about more than Makar's production. The Avalanche knew they were approaching a significant point with their franchise defenseman, who had one year remaining on his contract and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2026-27 season.

Rather than allow that situation to linger, Colorado got its cornerstone player under contract for the next eight years.

"We are beyond thrilled to get this deal done and have Cale in an Avalanche sweater for the next decade," Avalanche President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Joe Sakic said.

Sakic called Makar a "generational defenseman" and pointed to both his accomplishments and his importance to the Avalanche organization and the Colorado community.

Makar expressed a similar desire to remain in Colorado.

"I am so excited and humbled to continue to wear the Avalanche sweater and represent this incredible organization and community," Makar said.

He also described Colorado as a "second home."

The extension gives Colorado long-term certainty around one of the most important players in the franchise's history. It also removes the possibility of Makar reaching unrestricted free agency after the 2026-27 season, when he would have been one of the most coveted players on the market.

The Avalanche also avoid another situation like the one that unfolded with Mikko Rantanen, when a franchise cornerstone eventually left Colorado after contract negotiations failed to produce a long-term agreement.

This time, Colorado got its deal done well before Makar reached the open market, ensuring that one of the league's premier players will remain at the center of the franchise for the better part of the next decade.

The result is a contract that fundamentally changes the ceiling of the NHL's salary market. Makar's $20.4 million AAV is not only the largest number in the league, but a reflection of the value Colorado places on a defenseman who has already established himself as one of the best players of his generation.

For the Avalanche, it means keeping their franchise defenseman through 2034-35. For Makar, it is the largest financial commitment ever made to an NHL player. And for the league, the bar at the top has moved considerably higher.

The Minnesota Wild may not have been involved in Cale Makar's contract negotiations with the Colorado Avalanche, but the result could have major ramifications in Minnesota.

Makar and the Avalanche have agreed to an eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension, carrying an average annual value of $20.4 million.

For the Wild, that number immediately matters for one reason: Quinn Hughes.

Hughes is entering the final season of the six-year, $47.1 million contract he originally signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2021. His $7.85 million cap hit has become one of the biggest bargains in hockey, but that bargain is quickly approaching its expiration date.

Minnesota acquired Hughes from Vancouver in December knowing exactly what was at stake. The Wild surrendered a massive package to acquire one of the NHL's premier defensemen without any guarantee that he would remain in Minnesota beyond the 2026-27 season.

Now, Makar may have established the benchmark for what keeping Hughes could cost.

Makar and Hughes have separated themselves as two of the defining defensemen of their generation. While their styles and individual accomplishments differ, there are few players who make more sense as contract comparables.

That means Hughes' representatives now have a massive number to point toward in negotiations with Wild president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin.

If Makar is worth $20.4 million annually, how far behind should Hughes be? That's the question Minnesota may now have to answer.

Hughes' impact since joining the Wild certainly strengthens his case. He recorded 53 points in 48 regular-season games after arriving in Minnesota and added 15 points in 11 playoff games. His ability to move the puck and generate offense from the blue line transformed the Wild and helped Minnesota advance beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015.

The Wild have made no secret about wanting to keep him.

Guerin called signing Hughes the organization's "priority No. 1" following the season, while owner Craig Leipold has publicly expressed confidence that the two sides will eventually reach an agreement.

Hughes has also said he would be open to staying in Minnesota.

The more complicated question may be the structure of the contract.

'I Love The City And The Fans': Quinn Hughes Already Feels At Home In MinnesotaFrom blockbuster trades to standing ovations, the star defenseman reflects on embracing the State of Hockey's culture and why he’s ready to build a future in Minnesota.

Minnesota would understandably prefer to secure Hughes for as long as possible, but Hughes could have an incentive to sign a shorter extension. A shorter deal would allow him to maintain flexibility while potentially returning to the market while still in his prime.

Not only that, but it would allign him with his brother Jack Hughes.

Regardless of the term, Makar's extension gives Hughes' camp an important new piece of leverage.

Minnesota already committed $17 million annually to Kirill Kaprizov on his eight-year extension. If Hughes lands somewhere near Makar's new $20.4 million benchmark, the Wild could eventually have well over $35 million of their salary cap committed annually to two players.

That's an enormous investment.

It's also the price of employing superstar talent in an NHL where the salary cap — and contracts for the league's best players — continue to climb.

The Wild didn't give up Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren and a first-round pick to rent Hughes for a season and a half. They acquired him with the belief that he could become one of the foundational pieces of a Stanley Cup contender.

Makar's new contract doesn't change Minnesota's desire to make that happen. It may have just made the price considerably clearer.

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The Dallas Cowboys are two weeks away from the 2026 regular season. After a disastrous 2025 season, the saying “this feels different” has been thrown around a lot this offseason. The final step to things working out differently for the Cowboys is building the best 53-man roster they can.

Today we will take a swing at predicting what the Cowboys final 53-man roster will look like in just a few days.

QB (2)

Dak Prescott, Joe Milton

Heading into Oxnard, there was a loud conversation about Sam Howell beating out Joe Milton for the QB2 job. Milton has silenced any of those questions by running away with the quarterback competition. Milton was never a cut candidate, but if he had his struggles this offseason, the Cowboys were almost forced to carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. With Milton showing great signs of development, the Cowboys should feel comfortable carrying just two, and hoping to get Sam Howell back on the practice squad.

RB (4)

Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Hunter Luepke

Similar to the quarterback position, the running back starter was never in question heading into the season. After a dominant 2025 season from Javonte Williams, the only question in the running back room was who will blossom as the team’s RB2, and that is exactly what Malik Davis did this offseason. Davis may never be a workhorse back, but he does a lot of things well and is a perfect depth piece behind Williams.

Jaydon Blue has had an up-and-down offseason, but he has shown more consistency and reliability so far. Blue’s change of pace ability is needed on the roster and his usage out of the backfield as a receiver should be put on display more in 2026.

WR (6)

CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, Camden Brown

The only major question surrounding the wide receiver position heading into the offseason was who would win the WR5 job. Luckily for the Cowboys they had two players do so, meaning they will now keep six (hopefully). Both Jonathan Mingo and Camden Brown had excellent offseasons, leaving the Cowboys with a difficult roster decision.

With George Pickens future in Dallas still in question past 2026, keeping a young receiver like Brown on the roster would be a smart move. As of today, I’m 50/50 on if they will go with five or six receivers, but Brown has shown up every time he’s been called upon, and it’s hard to justify cutting someone after they performed the way he did all offseason.

TE (3)

Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker

Heading into the offseason, Michael Trigg pushing for a roster spot was a possibility, but after a toe injury kept him out of preseason game two, he sure feels like more of a practice squad candidate to develop for 2027. The tight end position is pretty straight forward with Trigg’s injury, and despite Luke Schoonmaker’s struggles since being drafted in the second round of the 2024 draft, his blocking ability should keep him around another season.

OL (9)

Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, Nate Thomas, Drew Shelton, TJ Bass, Nick Leverett

The starting five for the Cowboys offensive line was never in doubt, but same cannot be said about the Cowboys offensive line depth. Both Bass and Leverett have had nice offseasons for the team, but the depth offensive tackles have struggled mightily. If the Cowboys have an opportunity to add a veteran by trade or signing, the team could look to move on from Thomas, but with 31 other teams hunting offensive line depth it’s tough to imagine the Cowboys upgrading their tackle depth behind Guyton and Steele.

DL (5)

Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Otito Ogbonnia, LT Overton, Jonathan Bullard

One of the tougher cuts in this prediction was leaving Tommy Dunn off the roster. Dunn has shown up in more ways than one this offseason, and if all things were equal he’d be on the roster over Jonathan Bullard. With Williams, Clark, and Ogbonnia penciled in as the starting three on the defensive line, the Cowboys defensive line is slated to have a big year under first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Rookie LT Overton has flashed throughout camp and in preseason to garner playing time as a rotational depth piece with some surprising upside.

EDGE (6)

Rashaan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence, James Houston, Marist Liufau

The decision between Sam Williams and Marist Liufau was the only one to weigh in the Cowboys edge room. Despite Williams playing better over the course of training camp and preseason, Liufau’s special teams ability and ability to play linebacker if needed in a pinch got him the nod.

LB (5)

DeMarvion Overshown, Jaishawn Barham, Dee Winters, Shemar James, Curtis Robinson

If the Cowboys don’t want to risk losing Tommy Dunn, they could look to go thin at linebacker to bolster their defensive line depth, but given how bad things went at linebacker last year, keeping someone with starting experience in Curtis Robinson may win out. Robinson is also known for his special teams ability, and that means a lot when deciding on the final few roster spots on a 53.

CB (5)

DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel Jr., Cobie Durant, Devin Moore, Ameer Speed

The Cowboys cornerback room looks much improved ahead of the 2026 season. With DaRon Bland back healthy, Shavon Revel having an awesome offseason, and the addition of Cobie Durant, the Cowboys have better starters and depth in their secondary than they had at any point in the 2025 season.

While Caleb Downs is expected to play a ton of slot corner this year, Durant’s versatility and play-making ability will prove to be a huge addition to the room. Also, don’t sleep on Ameer Speed who has really impressed in training camp and preseason. Devin Moore will make the roster, despite missing time with an injury and struggling in his first NFL offseason, but the tools are to intriguing to give up on this early.

S (5)

Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, Markquese Bell

Similar to the defensive line, this is the first time in a long time we should feel really good about the Cowboys safety room. Downs will play a ton at the nickel-corner spot, but we will also see him play some traditional safety from time to time. Jalen Thompson’s versatility and IQ was much needed on the backend of the defense, along with P.J. Locke.

Specialist (3)

Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg

This is one of the most stable areas of the roster. Aubrey is one of the best kickers in the league, while Anger and Sieg have held down the punting unit without issue.

The Mets appear to be close to getting a massive boost in the middle of their lineup. 

Juan Soto told reporters including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com on Friday afternoon at Citi Field that he’s just about ready to make his highly-anticipated return from the injured list. 

Interim manager Andy Green shared pregame Friday that Soto is going through another work day, and the team is going to wait and see how he feels Saturday before deciding on his next step.

Soto told DiComo himself that he doesn’t anticipate needing a rehab assignment. 

The star outfielder has been sidelined since late-July due to a left calf strain suffered in a game against the Dodgers. 

He also missed time with a right calf strain earlier this season. 

Even with the Mets way out of the playoff race, Green said that Soto has been "getting after it" over the past couple of days with hopes of returning as soon as possible. 

Despite just dropping a series to the Brewers, the club has been playing much better of late. 

Soto was in the midst of another spectacular offensive season before going down with the injury, hitting .283 with 21 home runs and a .947 OPS across 84 games. 

Two streaking baseball teams face each other tonight in Cleveland.

9-1 in their past 10 games, the Royals are 60-75 with -81 run differential, 19th in team wRC+ at 98, tenth in baserunning runs above average at 3.1, sixth in Defense at -0.4, 19th in starting pitcher ERA at 4.34 (4.25 FIP), and 29th in bullpen ERA at 5.15 (5.20 FIP).

8-2 in their past 10 games and owners of seven-game win streak, the Guardians are 68-66 with a -4 run differential, 23rd in team wRC+ at 94, eighth in baserunning runs above average at 5.1, seventh in defense at -0.6, seventh in starting pitcher ERA at 3.84 (4.05 FIP), and seventh in bullpen ERA at 3.72 (3.78 FIP).

Keys: Get into the bullpen as soon as you can and take advantage and don’t let Witt or Caglianone beat you.

Matchups:
Game One, Friday, 7:10PM ET: Wacha 3.49 ERA (4.18 FIP) vs. Bibee RHP 3.97 ERA (4.61 FIP)
Game Two, Saturday, 4:10PM ET: Lynch IV (opener) 2.93 ERA (3.48 FIP) vs. Griffin LHP 3.19 ERA (4.20 FIP)
Game Three, Sunday, 1:40PM ET: Lugo 4.61 ERA (4.00 FIP) vs. Messick LHP 2.50 ERA (3.08 FIP)

The Royals are led by Jac Caglianone 128 wRC+, Bobby Witt Jr. 127 wRC+, and Tyler Tolbert 123 wRC+.

The Guardians are led by Chase DeLauter 130 wRC+, Nathaniel Lowe 116 wRC+, Steven Kwan 110 wRC+, Angel Genao 108 wRC+, Austin Hedges 105 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 102 wRC+, and Travis Bazzana 102 wRC+.

The Guardians lead the season series 4-3 and need three wins in the remaining six games to secure the season win. Really need to find a way to minimize the damage that Witt and Caglianone can do and you can win this series.

Nothing says preseason football quite like a game with 10 field goals and no touchdowns, as the Las Vegas Raiders fell to the San Francisco 49ers 18-12. That drops the Raiders to 1-2 over the last three weeks, officially wraps up training camp, and sets up the final winners and losers before the regular season.

LOSER: Fernando Mendoza

I cut Mendoza some slack last week, but it’s hard to ignore back-to-back games with interceptions. This time, he got greedy and tried to fit a ball into a very tight window while targeting the 5-foot-11 Jalen Nailor. To be fair, Mendoza managed to get the ball over the linebacker, and a bigger/taller receiver might have been able to come down with it. But it was the wrong throw/decision for the pass-catcher he was throwing to.

Also, the Raiders’ offense operates more smoothly with Kirk Cousins behind center right now. Of course, that’s to be expected since he’s the veteran and has played in Klint Kubiak’s system before. However, that’s another strong sign that the rookie won’t be the team’s Week 1 starter, and it feels like any hopes of that ended on Thursday night.

WINNER: Mike Washington Jr.

Washington has been deserving of some recognition in the winners column but hasn’t gotten it yet. That had nothing to do with his play, though, and everything to do with the fact that he’s held down the second running back job essentially since he was drafted. But that changes because not only did the Arkansas product have another strong outing with eight carries for 49 yards (6.1 ypc), he also eased some concerns if Ashton Jeanty has to miss some time.

The rookie provided some hope that he’s capable of taking on a bigger role if needed and that he can be more than just a home-run hitter out of the backfield.

LOSER: Aidan O’Connell

In a way, this preseason has summarized O’Connell’s tenure in Las Vegas. He’s been up and down, with a shaky outing in the first contest against the Cardinals, then was much better to lead a game-winning drive last week, and had another tough performance on Thursday night. If the Silver and Black were hoping to shop the fourth-year pro ahead of cutdown day, going three-for-nine with 32 passing yards didn’t exactly help matters.

WINNER: JJ Pegeus

The Raiders have been looking for defensive tackles to step up all preseason, and not many had answered the call in the first two games. However, Pegues made a statement against San Francisco, standing out against the run with four tackles, the majority of which were near the line of scrimmage.

He also made a few plays that won’t show up on the stat sheet by plugging up gaps to make runs bounce, and he had a great rep as a pass rusher, pushing the pocket with a bull rush and getting his hands up to record a batted pass. If the 2025 sixth-round pick was on the bubble heading into the game, he certainly made a strong case to stay on the roster.

LOSER: Atonio Mafi

I thought Mafi had a chance to make the team with what he was bringing as a run blocker. But he’s been a problem in pass protection, and that continued in the third preseason game by giving up another sack. The franchise needs to protect its investment in Mendoza, and it’s becoming clear that the fourth-year lineman isn’t up for the job.

WINNER: Brandon Cleveland

Along the same lines as Pegues, Cleveland had a much-needed outing to boost his odds of making the team. The seventh-round pick tied for the team lead with five total tackles and led the club outright with a pair of TFLs. He also had an impressive win as a pass-rusher to get a quarterback hit and was in the 49ers’ backfield on several occasions throughout the night. That should give the coaching staff something to think about ahead of cutdown day.

LOSER: Wide Receivers

To cut the quarterbacks mentioned above some slack, it seemed like the Raiders’ wide receivers struggled to get open. The passing game was filled with a lot of check downs, and there wasn’t a receiver who really stood out against San Francisco. Tre Tucker led the team with 25 receiving yards and no one else even eclipsed 20 yards, while the group had a handful of drops on the evening.

Kubiak called out the position group after last week’s game and can’t be much happier with what he saw on Thursday night. Even after cutdown day, the receivers at the bottom of the roster shouldn’t feel comfortable because it seems like the Silver and Black will be taking a long look at the position on the waiver wire.

WINNER: Cameron McGrone

It will be interesting to see how many linebackers the coaching staff wants to keep, and if there’s an open spot, McGrone made a strong case to fill it. He was flying around all night, showing off some impressive instincts to tie Cleveland and Greedy Vance for the team lead in total tackles (five). At the least, that could have earned the 26-year-old one of the six veteran practice squad spots.

For most of the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have operated with fewer distractions than usual, keeping them under the radar. Then, after two strong performances in the first two preseason games, Dallas became a focus of sports talk television, raising the question, “Is this finally the year they do it?”

Before jumping too far ahead in that conversation, the Cowboys have one more preseason game to play at home against the New Orleans Saints. The top end of the roster is almost set for the season opener, but questions remain about what to do with the final spots and who will win certain competitions.

Who sits and who plays on Friday night will tell us a lot to begin with, but here are four remaining questions Dallas needs answers to by the end of the preseason finale.

Can Dallas keep three quarterbacks?

Joe Milton has performed exceptionally well in his second season as a backup to Dak Prescott. When Dallas signed Sam Howell, it “pissed off” Milton, but it also brought out the best in him and pushed him to become a proficient commander of the offense.

Milton has the fourth most passing yards in the preseason (286), leads quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (3) and passer rating (142.9) for any quarterback who has had 20 percent of the total dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Sam Howell has made a case for himself to stay on the roster as well. His first preseason game was better than the second, but Brian Schottenheimer continues to praise him and what he’s brought to the quarterback room. If Howell does nothing more than continue to keep that fire under Milton lit the entire season and grow as a player, does that justify keeping Howell in the building on the 53?

If the Cowboys cut either quarterback, it might not be as easy to claim them back on the practice squad, since good backup play is hard to come by in the NFL. Dallas has kept three quarterbacks in the past. This roster makes it much harder to find a scenario where that’s possible.

Does Dallas keep five or six wide receivers?

Over the last week, there’s been chatter on social media about Camden Brown’s flaws. He can’t separate; he doesn’t have the finishing speed; Dallas could find another developmental wide receiver. And then Brown makes another highlight play in training camp practice that makes everyone remember how consistent he’s been all offseason, forcing his way onto the 53-man roster.

Jonathan Mingo has also played extremely well in training camp and in the preseason games. He has four catches on five targets, 82 receiving yards, one touchdown, and a 90.5 PFF grade, which is fifth-best among all wide receivers in the preseason. Add that on top of him becoming a special teams player for Dallas, and it makes it hard to cut a player like Mingo, too, who Dallas has invested a ton of time in and has been patient.

If Dallas decides to go with five wideouts, which player would be unlikely to return to the practice squad and get claimed by another team? The way Brown has flashed and has been showcased in games could catch the eye of another team looking to bring on a developmental player who’s ahead of the curve as a rookie. Mingo gives another team a pro-ready player who elevates the back end of a wide receiver room, with the potential to be a high-end WR3 for a team like the Miami Dolphins.

The best-case scenario is that both players make the 53, and Dallas goes short at another position. It shouldn’t be an either-or conversation because both players deserve to be on the final roster.

Do the Cowboys have their backup tackles?

Nick Leverett, Ajani Cornelius, and Trevor Keegan have played really well in the interior of the offensive line. With T.J. Bass already locked in as the sixth offensive lineman, Dallas might only be able to keep two of the three. That’s a small potato question (if you know, you know). The big potato question is what Dallas should do about their backup offensive tackles?

Nate Thomas was supposed to push Tyler Guyton at left tackle for a starting job. Guyton quickly ended that battle, pushing Thomas down to backup. Throughout training camp and the preseason, things haven’t always looked great for the former seventh-round pick. The team has tried him at left and right tackle to practice position flex, but his development seems to be taking a step back instead of forward. For a player who has started four games in the NFL, Dallas was hoping for more.

Drew Shelton will need more time to grow as an NFL tackle. The 2026 fourth-round pick has not been great and has given up the second-most pressures (seven) of any offensive lineman in the preseason. Like Thomas, the coaching staff has tried to move him from right to left so he can learn to be a swing tackle and find the best role for him.

Dallas might not feel great about where either player is in their development, and with Cornelius moving to offensive guard, the Cowboys might have to find their swing tackle on the open market. If the front office has to pick either Thomas or Shelton to make the initial 53-man roster, the tie would probably go to Shelton, considering he’s the most recent draft pick and Dallas doesn’t usually give up on fourth-round picks this early.

Sam Williams or Marist Liufau?

After the Cowboys signed Von Miller, it took away a roster spot from James Houston, Sam Williams, and Marist Liufau. Instead of all three making the team, the competition could come down to two. All three can play on special teams and have been really good at it, so who makes the roster might be decided by who can show the most as a pass rusher.

Houston was a surprise for Dallas last year, getting 3.5 sacks in the first five games as a rotational player. He’s also continued that production in the preseason. Houston is the one Dallas might be most confident in out of the three.

Williams re-signed with Dallas on a one-year deal after testing the waters of free agency and getting nothing on the open market. The transition to a 3-4 defense could benefit him at stand-up outside linebacker. Williams has done a lot on special teams during the regular season, but has hurt the Cowboys at times with costly penalties. Do the Cowboys still believe the same player exists who had 8.5 sacks over the first two seasons of his career?

After two seasons at off-ball linebacker, Liufau made the switch to outside linebacker in the new scheme in what feels like a last-ditch effort to make the cut. Liufau has received praise from Schottenheimer for the way he’s attacked the transition and played with effort. Watching the preseason games, it looks like he may be too small to consistently go up against offensive tackles and blocking tight ends. Despite being the most recent draft pick of the three players listed, he might not fit the scheme anymore.

The final preseason game will be a chance for all three to make their final mark, with Williams and Liufau being at the center of it.