The New Orleans Saints won 27-24 over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium this Friday.

The Cowboys' preseason finale didn't settle every roster battle, but it did provide some important clues before final cuts. Joe Milton's QB2 case took a hit, Sam Williams strengthened his roster case, and several other decisions remain worth watching.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Dallas' final preseason game.

Joe Milton leaves the QB2 battle wide open

Joe Milton had entered the finale ahead of Sam Howell in the backup quarterback battle, making Friday’s game an important opportunity for him to strengthen that position. Instead, he completed 8-of-15 passes for 92 yards without a touchdown.

According to Mike Moraitis of the Dallas Cowboys on SI, Howell made a stronger case when he got his opportunity, completing 12-of-18 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns while adding a two-point conversion on the ground.

His 52-yard completion to rookie Jordan Hudson and their touchdown connection made the QB2 race much harder to call.

Camden Brown faces an uncertain roster outlook

The Cowboys’ decision to keep Jonathan Mingo out of the finale offered an interesting clue about the wide receiver group. Rookie Camden Brown, however, was on the field and finished with one catch for 27 yards.

With Mingo sitting out, Brown's one-catch performance did little to strengthen his case. His roster chances could ultimately depend on whether Dallas opts to carry six receivers or tries to move him to the practice squad.

Sam Williams strengthens his case for a roster spot

The edge-rusher competition received another important update, with Sam Williams, James Houston and Marist Liufau all seeing action. Williams clearly made the most of his snaps, recording a sack along with six tackles and a tackle for loss.

Houston finished with one tackle, while Liufau also had one before leaving the game with an injury. Tyrus Wheat added another strong argument for himself with his second sack of the preseason and a tackle for loss, keeping the roster decision interesting.

Dallas still has questions to answer at running back

There was no direct RB2 battle between Malik Davis and Jaydon Blue in the finale, as both players sat out along with Hunter Luepke.

The lack of playing time for Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, and Hunter Luepke could be a sign that Dallas already has a clearer idea of where they stand, particularly behind Javonte Williams.

Phil Mafah's appearance, meanwhile, suggests his roster situation may be less settled.

Jaishawn Barham gets a tougher test in finale

After an impressive preseason debut, Jaishawn Barham had a more uneven outing against New Orleans. He played on Dallas’ first two defensive drives and recorded two tackles.

The rookie also had a few moments when poor angles kept him from reaching ball carriers. It does not erase the promise he showed earlier, but it does highlight an area where Barham will need to improve and play with more control.

The finale didn't provide Dallas with answers across the board, but it did make some decisions more interesting.

Howell strengthened his QB2 case, Williams gave himself an edge on the defensive front, and several other players now face an anxious wait for the 53-man roster.

Written by

Divyanshi Raj