The Dallas Cowboys have won their first two preseason games, giving the team plenty of positive performances to sort through. Dallas beat the Arizona Cardinals 34-13 on Saturday, August 22, improving to 2-0 without playing its starters again.

According to observations from the game, several young players made strong impressions as roster battles continued. With one preseason game remaining, these five Cowboys did the most to help themselves against Arizona.

1. Joe Milton

Joe Milton may have done enough to take control of the backup quarterback competition.

The quarterback completed 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, adding another score on the ground, as reported by Mike Moraitis of Sports Illustrated on August 23.

His 53-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Mingo and 70-yard completion to Camden Brown highlighted a night in which Dallas scored on four of his six first-half possessions.

Sam Howell completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards and threw an interception, giving Milton another edge in the competition.

2. Jaishawn Barham

Jaishawn Barham didn't take long to announce his arrival in his preseason debut.

The third-round linebacker recorded five tackles, including a tackle for loss, while also generating pressure on a blitz.

He also handled the defensive communication responsibilities at middle linebacker, a notable role for a rookie in his first game action.

Barham missed the preseason opener with a groin injury, but his performance against Arizona put him firmly back into the linebacker discussion.

3. Malik Davis

Malik Davis strengthened his case in the competition behind Javonte Williams.

Davis rushed five times for 29 yards and caught an 8-yard touchdown during his work over the first two quarters.

He also picked up a blitz in pass protection before his night ended early.

Jaydon Blue finished with 75 yards on 15 carries, but Davis saw the field ahead of him and Phil Mafah when the game began.

4. Jonathan Mingo

Mingo continued an encouraging preseason with a big performance against Arizona, as per Levi Dombro of The Landry Hat.

He opened the game with a nine-yard reception before beating his defender on a double move for a 53-yard touchdown.

The former second-round pick has faced questions about his roster spot, but Dallas invested heavily in acquiring him in 2024.

His recent play may make that decision more difficult, especially with Camden Brown also producing.

5. Shavon Revel Jr.

Shavon Revel Jr. needed only one defensive series to leave his mark on the game.

The cornerback intercepted Gardner Minshew after an Arizona receiver slipped, then returned the ball 22 yards to help set up Dallas' first score.

Revel also played only five defensive snaps, which limited his opportunities but continued a productive offseason.

Malachi Lawrence also generated pressure on the play, helping create the turnover. Revel's limited workload could indicate that his spot on the roster is becoming more secure after a strong offseason.

Dallas will now turn toward its preseason finale against New Orleans Saints on August 29 with several roster decisions still unsettled.

Milton, Barham, Davis, Brown and Revel each gave the coaching staff another reason to keep watching them before the regular season arrives.

Written by

Evince Das