Clarence Hill: Things to watch in Dallas Cowboys preseason Game vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The Dallas Cowboys face the Las Vegas Raiders in their preseason finale Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

This represents the last chance for players looking to make the opening-day roster as NFL teams must cut down to 53-man rosters on Aug. 29.

Unlike past years when teams gradually trimmed their rosters, there is now only one cut down day.

And teams like the new process as it allows them to evaluate young players one final time while keeping he veterans out of harm’s way before the season openers in two weeks.

Starting quarterback Dak Prescott and the majority of the Cowboys veterans will sit out their third straight preseason game.

And the Cowboys, who have made no additions to the roster since the start of training camp, not only believe they Super Bowl contender but they feel so good about their players that they believe this will be their toughest cuts in years.

“I do think this team — when we came to camp — you know, I think it’s as deep a team as we’ve ever had. This is no question — going to be the hardest 53 [man roster] cut that we’ve had in years and years in terms of trying to get down to our numbers. We do have some good depth there,” Stephen Jones said.

5 Things to watch in Cowboys preseason final vs. the Raiders:

1. Will Grier will likely go the entire way at quarterback as the third-stringer must prove himself worthy of making the roster as the team’s third quarterback.

A new NFL rule allows teams to dress a third QB on game days without using an active roster spot this season. The new bylaw allows a team activate a third QB “during the game, if the club’s first two quarterbacks on its game-day Active List are not able to participate in the game due to injury or disqualification.”

Grier likes the move.

“I mean, I love it,” Grier said. “I think it’s smart. Quarterback is a different position. A guy can’t just jump in and play quarterback. In this league, I think you need three guys that can play.

“I think the rule is smart and everybody agrees after what we saw last year that you need that. Whether that guy is on the practice squad or on the roster with this rule enacted, that guy has to be ready to play.”

Of course, Grier has to make it happen.

Coach Mike McCarthy said the Raiders game is a huge opportunity for Grier.

“I’m excited for him,” McCarthy said. “I think Will has clearly taken a jump from last year and I like the way the whole room has improved. Saturday night will be about Will.”

2. The devastating loss of third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown to a season-ending knee injury last week’s 22-14 preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks has the Cowboys scrambling to shore the depth at linebacker.

There is a chance the Cowboys could go long at safety and short at linebacker during the final cuts. The moving of Markquese Bell from safety to linebacker is a nod toward that possibility.

The Cowboys have no proven linebackers behind Micah Parsons, who is playing mostly end, Leighton Vander Esch and Damone Clark. Devin Harper is now locked in as the next best guy. But Jabril Cox and Malik Jefferson are question marks for the final roster.

At safety, the Cowboys are loaded with a top three of Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson followed by Bell, Israel Mukuamu, Tyler Coyle, Sheldrick Redwine and Juanyeh Thomas. The Cowboys will likely keep five.

Hence the move with Bell.

“It’s creating opportunities,” McCarthy said. “It’s position flex. I think we’re very fortunate for a number of safeties that we do have.”

3. Speaking of Jefferson, the former Texas star has missed the Seahawks game with a foot injury he suffered in the preseason opener against the Jaguars and is unlikely to play against the Raiders.

He participated in the team’s mock game on Thursday but McCarthy said is going to be tough for him to get on the field.

Jefferson has had a solid training camp and was hoping to make roster as a backup linebacker and special teams contributor. He played well against the Jaguars before the injury with four tackles and was one of the highest graded Cowboys defenders in the game.

A Dallas native, Jefferson has bounced around a lot since being picked in the third round by the Bengals in 2018. He has had stints with the Browns, Chargers (twice), Titans, and Colts before being signed by the Cowboys last July and spending 2022 on the practice squad.

“He’s been good since he’s been here,” McCarthy said. “He’s got some leadership in the special teams room as well.”

4. The final preseason game will go along way towards deciding how many running backs the Cowboys keep behind starter Tony Pollard.

Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis and Deuce Vaughn have all made cases for the team to keep four running backs. What is known is that Dowdle and Vaughn are locks at this point. Davis is fighting an uphill battle and will likely not play against the Raiders because of a foot injury.

“I hope so. Because I think there’s definitely candidates to fill that out,” McCarthy said of keeping four running backs. “This is an important game for those guys.”

The running back who has the most at stake on Saturday is Hunter Leupke, the undrafted rookie free agent from North Dakota State. The Cowboys gave $200,000 in guarantees and a $20,000 signing bonus with the hopes of him becoming a classic fullback in the West Coast offense.

Leupke has the versatility as a runner and pass catcher but has proven not to be much of a lead blocker. He is being looked as a running back and will get a long look against the Raiders for at least a shot on the practice squad.

“Hunter (Luepke) hasn’t been given a lot of opportunities,” McCarthy said. “So I definitely want to see him play a lot Saturday night. I definitely want to fill the void that’s created sometimes when players haven’t been given enough opportunity.”

5. Kicker Brandon Aubrey remains a focal point. The Cowboys like what he has shown so far in training camp and the preseason but he is a question mark because he has never kicked in a NFL regular-season game.

Aubrey grew up playing soccer in Plano. He played soccer in college at Notre Dame. He took up kicking a few years ago and spent the last two years in the USFL. He has never kicked in front of a crowd, let alone opposing fans in a hostile environment.

The Cowboys regret not getting him an opportunity to kick in Seattle last week. He was solid in the game as he has been all camp. He made both of his extra-point tries and had three touchbacks on kickoffs.

But Aubrey, who made a 29-yarder against the Jaguars, has yet to attempt a field goal of 30 yards or more.

He is on the team as far as the Cowboys are concerned. But he could kick himself off the team with a poor showing against the Raiders.