OXNARD, Calif. -- As the training camp clock begins to tick down, the chance for young players to make favorable impressions in their bid to make a 53-man roster dwindle as well.
There are lots of things to ponder as the Dallas Cowboys take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday: should Tony Romo play behind a makeshift offensive line? Should Sean Lee and Morris Claiborne make their debuts on a shaky playing surface? How much work should Darren McFadden receive?
The younger players don’t have a choice. They will play. And some of them need to leave a more favorable mark than they did in the first preseason game against the San Diego Chargers or continue their solid work into the second preseason game to show the coaches consistency.
"I think with everybody, you’re trying to give them opportunities every day to show who they are," coach Jason Garrett said. "The players hear me talk about this over and over and over again each and every day at training camp, and certainly going into these preseason games. It’s a great opportunity for them, and we’re going to watch what they do, period, and evaluate it. The preseason games matter, but practice matters, too. How a player responds from what happened last week in San Diego on the practice field matters; how he responds to the work against the Rams, and then certainly when you get back into these preseason games, that matters, too. We’ll do that with everybody, and you want to see them respond to success, you want to see them respond to adversity. You really just want to see them keep growing -- as a player, and certainly us as a team."
Weems was the only player to take part in all 62 offensive snaps against the Chargers. There were some positives, but he allowed a sack and had a holding penalty. The Cowboys need Weems, who did not play last season because of a shoulder injury, to win the swing-tackle role Jermey Parnell held for three years before leaving for the Jacksonville Jaguars in March.
With Tyron Smith slowed with a biceps strain, Weems has played mostly left tackle the past two weeks. Perhaps the Cowboys would move Doug Free to left tackle in the regular season if Smith were hurt, but Free has been limited in his practice because of soreness in his surgically repaired foot.
Either way, Weems can secure his spot with a good performance Sunday. If not, then the Cowboys could have to look for more veteran help.
Whitehead was signed as an undrafted receiver mostly because of the return ability he displayed at Florida Atlantic. The Cowboys have an opening with Dwayne Harris leaving in free agency for the New York Giants, and Whitehead is getting a chance.
He didn’t help himself with a fumble on a 19-yard punt return against the Chargers. But later he helped himself with a 38-yard kickoff return after the turnover. He caught one pass for 2 yards.
With Dez Bryant out with a hamstring strain, Whitehead has received more first-team snaps than expected, but now Devin Street has recovered from an ankle injury and those chances have not been as plentiful. The Cowboys won’t want to expose Cole Beasley in the return game with a sore Achilles, so Whitehead can once again help his bid to make the final roster.
The seventh-round pick has impressed the coaches and front office with his work this summer. More importantly he’s even received praise from Jason Witten. Perhaps he has already cemented a spot on the roster and will force the Cowboys to carry four tight ends.
Against the 49ers, however, he will receive a lot of work. Gavin Escobar has been limited in practice this week with a concussion. James Hanna suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament against the Chargers and will not play. That makes Swaim the No. 2 tight end, followed by Brandon Barden.
Swaim has demonstrated some ability in the passing game, and though he came to the Cowboys with the reputation as a good blocker, he needs to show more in that area against the 49ers.
Whitehead, George Farmer and Antwan Goodley were the bigger-named receivers the Cowboys signed as undrafted free agents, if there is such a thing for an undrafted free agent, but Harwell has been the most consistent of the group.
Farmer has been cut and Goodley has been limited with a hamstring strain. Against the Chargers Harwell caught three passes for 19 yards.
The fifth receiver spot is up for grabs. Harwell can play inside and outside, but has limited special teams’ ability.
