The Cowboys Steelers matchup in the NFL Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night is the first opportunity for NFL fans to get a taste of football this season. For Cowboys fans it is a chance to see some of the teams new additions and rising stars in action for the first time. As is always the case, there is a lot of preseason hype surrounding a lot of these players and tomorrow night’s game will be the first measuring stick to see if any of that hype is merited.
Inevitably, the NFL Hall of Fame game will not feature many of the breakout players Cowboys fans are hoping to see prove themselves. We likely won’t see Randy Gregory, CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, Micah Parsons, and the other linebackers who have struggled in recent years that we are all anxious to get a glimpse of. There are a few players that are a little deeper on the depth chart that we all want to get a closer look at in the Cowboys Steelers match-up and here are a few that I am particularly interested in.
GARRETT GILBERT, QB
The back-up quarterback situation in Dallas is ever a concern and rather than seek veteran help as they did last season with Andy Dalton, the Cowboys opted to stick with the guys currently on the depth chart. Ben DiNucci has not been impressing anyone in training camp and after his lone start in 2020, most Cowboys fans do not want to see an encore. Garrett Gilbert on the other hand, is a guy that Cowboys fans DO want see a little more of. Gilbert stepped in last year against these very same Pittsburgh Steelers and played a very respectable game. He has looked pretty good in training camp as well and the majority of Cowboys fans are rooting for him to win the backup job. Thursday night will present him with an opportunity to help solidify that job.
QUINTON BOHANNA, DT
There is a small contingent of Cowboys fans who absolutely loved the addition of Quinton Bohanna in the 6th round of the NFL draft this year. Bohanna is a true nose tackle which the Cowboys have lacked for far too long. He may be buried on the depth chart presently but a strong showing in the preseason could present him with more opportunities going forward. Normally, a nose tackle is not the funnest guy to watch but given that I want so badly for him to succeed and for the Cowboys to have a legitimate force in the interior of the DL, I will be paying close attention if and when he gets on the field.
REGGIE ROBINSON II, CB
The deck is stacked somewhat against Reggie Robinson. He was drafted last year as somewhat of a pet cat of Will McClay’s but was forced to switch positions from CB to Safety and he barely saw the field. Now he has moved back to CB where the Cowboys have a large group of young and hungry players. It will not be easy for Robinson to earn a spot on this roster but being a special teams ace in college and a bit of a ball hawk, he has a chance. I am excited to finally see this kid get an opportunity and I am rooting for him to defy the odds and make this team.
NAHSHON WRIGHT, CB
Sticking with the cornerback position, Nahshon Wright earned some notoriety among Cowboys Nation merely because when he was drafted in the third round, most of us had never heard of him. The fact that he was taken ahead of a proven college player like Elijah Molden and because of his unusual height and length, he instantly became the most unpopular Dallas Cowboys draft pick since Travis Frederick in 2012. To make matters worse, his comments about being a more athletic version of Richard Sherman shortly after the draft were taken way out of context and he was absolutely killed on social media for them. All of that doubt and criticism really makes me want this player to succeed all the more. Hopefully he can prove all of his doubters wrong just like Travis Frederick did nearly a decade ago. Most Cowboys fans are much more hyped to see the other rookie cornerback Kelvin Joseph a.k.a “Bossman Fat” who is considered a first round talent but Nahshon Wright was selected in the third round of the draft for a reason. Obviously this coaching staff has big plans for his future. He may be a player that requires some development but I am truly anxious to see what he can do under the bright lights of Canton tomorrow night.
JABRIL COX, LB
Jabril Cox was many Cowboy fans favorite draft pick from the 2021 NFL Draft. The Cowboys were able to select the LSU standout in the fourth round which was excellent value for a player of his calibre. He does not have a great chance to earn much playing time this season due to the Cowboys current LB depth chart but he could end up being a key contributor in coverage and on special teams in the short term. I am sure the plan is to have him eventually take over as a starter in the next year or two as Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch may find that their days as members of the Dallas Cowboys are numbered. Jabril Cox is an exciting and athletic player who has the ability to fly around the football field. His coverage skills have some Cowboys fans believing that he can develop into the next Lavante David while fellow rookie LB Micah Parsons is being dubbed the next Devon White. When Cox takes the field on Thursday night, I will be paying close attention to see what he can do.
Those are the players that I am most excited to get a chance to see in the Cowboys Steelers HOF Game on Thursday night but the most exciting thing above all else is that football is finally back.