There was a lot to be learned from the Dallas Cowboys' preseason opener. It became apparent throughout the game that the Cowboys has legitimate depth at linebacker and in the secondary. The defense came away with four interceptions even though Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis, Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson didn't see the field.
On the offensive side of the ball, the wide receiver and tight end competitions have ramped up. Training camp standout Jalen Cropper was awesome yet again. Mike McCarthy will have a tough time omitting Cropper from the 53-man roster.
Fortunately for McCarthy, some decisions will be easier than others. Choosing which tight ends to keep got a lot easier after Sunday's exhibition.
While nobody was spectacular in the game, third-year pro Peyton Hendershot was sidelined with a shoulder injury. The injury kept Hendershot out of last week's joint practice against the Rams as well, so he has missed valuable live-game reps to prove he deserves a spot on the roster.
Peyton Hendershot's shoulder injury might keep him off Cowboys' 53-man roster
Roster cutdowns are unfair to some players who perform at a high level throughout camp and preseason. Injuries, though, can be fatal to a player's roster chances. With Hendershot firmly on the roster bubble, he needs to not only make a swift recovery but also play out of his skin over the next two weeks to make the team.
Five tight ends played against the Rams in Hendershot's absence. Racey McMath and Brevyn Spann-Ford led the way with 26 and 23 snaps, respectively. Not far behind was Princeton Fant with 19 snaps followed by Luke Schoonmaker (18 snaps) and John Stephens Jr. (17 snaps).
That isn't to say Hendershot is behind all of them on the depth chart. Racey McMath had two drops Sunday so it's a foregone conclusion that he'll be cut.
Fant, however, is a favorite of the coaching staff who was trusted to play 30 snaps on special teams last year in the two games he was active. In fact, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News had Fant making the team in his latest 53-man roster projection (subscription required).
In addition, the Cowboys gave Spann-Ford some of the most guaranteed money of any undrafted free agent. Spann-Ford has a towering frame and is a mauler of a blocker. He could use a year on the practice squad, which may leave the door ajar for Hendershot. It is also possible that Spann-Ford makes the team as the fourth tight end.
It may ultimately be John Stephens Jr. who keeps Hendershot off the roster. Stephens finished second on the team Sunday with three catches. More importantly, he looked healthy and sure of himself after a torn ACL wiped out his rookie year.
This is all conjecture. It will ultimately come down to the health of the room and how many tight ends the Cowboys want to keep. If Hendershot can't get back on the field soon, though, it may be inevitable that he gets cut if it isn't already.
