After playing in the Hall of Fame Game, the Dallas Cowboys face the Cardinals on the road in Week 1 of the NFL preseason. Who should you be watching?
As the first week of the 2021 NFL preseason has arrived, the Dallas Cowboys are one of two teams that we’ve already seen on the field as they participated in the Hall of Fame Game. But their actual preseason efforts will begin on Friday night as they head to Arizona for a date with the Cardinals.
We know we still won’t see any of Dak Prescott as the team takes it slow with his shoulder strain but there is a lot for the Cowboys to glean from these preseason contests. And a matchup with Kliff Kingsbury’s Cardinals could be a great proving ground, especially for a defense that, under new coordinator Dan Quinn, is trying to put all of the pieces into place.
Moreover, it’s also a time in which offensive players can try to fight for roster spots and places on the depth chart to instill confidence moving forward. So even if we aren’t seeing the full first-team offense or defense, this is still something Cowboys fans should be tuned into.
Which players specifically should fans have their eyes focused on, though? While there are plenty of others, these five stand out as Dallas Cowboys who deserve your attention on Friday night against Arizona.
5. Micah Parsons, LB
In his first time on an NFL field, Micah Parson showcased a lot of the reasons why he was a first-round pick. The linebacker was consistently finding his way into plays, even if he didn’t light up the stat sheet, though he did notch a key fumble recovery early in the Hall of Fame Game.
As we saw on Hard Knocks, though, Parsons still has some things to iron out. He needs to play within himself and within the structure of the defense at times rather than trying to use his otherworldly athleticism at his size to make every play on the field.
That type of necessary development is to be expected from most rookies, even first-round picks. However, a matchup against a speed-laden Arizona offense could be a great opportunity for him to flash his playmaking but also show the progression in the mental aspects of his game.