Cowboys insider names four bubble players predicted to make active roster

As the Dallas Cowboys near the NFL’s roster deadline on Aug. 29, they have some hard decisions to make. Although they have a plethora of options now, in a week, they’ll need to narrow some groups down significantly, especially wide receiver and running back. Dallas has several young players with promise that they’d probably like to keep around on the practice roster, but there are also those that are right there on the bubble of making the active roster for gameday.

DallasCowboys.com reporter Nick Eatman shared his predictions for four players who appear set to secure spots on the 53-man roster, and even the active roster for Week 1 versus New York.

“Deuce Vaughn is on the team,” Eatman predicted after Vaughn’s impressive preseason showings. “We knew that last week but if there was any doubt, it’s over now. In fact, there might be some serious talks about getting him on the second unit because it’s been two games and he’s scored two touchdowns.”

Vaughn had five carries for 14 yards and a touchdown against Seattle after getting 50 yards on eight carries and a score in the first game versus Jacksonville. The former Kansas State star can also contribute as a return man.

“Problem with him being the No. 2 back is that Rico Dowdle might have something to say about it,” Eatman continued. “In fact, he was speaking rather loudly Saturday night in Seattle, making a strong case for him to back up Tony Pollard at running back.”

Dowdle, a former undrafted free agent, has received mounting praise from Mike McCarthy through the preseason. Versus Seattle, he had eight carries for 38 yards. He added 21 yards on six carries against the Jaguars.

Tolbert, Turpin make push behind first three Cowboys receivers

As far as the wide receivers are concerned, Eatman strongly believes Jalen Tolbert has done enough to earn an active roster spot this season.

“I think we all knew Tolbert was going to make the team, regardless how he played in these games,” Eatman wrote. “A third-round investment is too much to let go after two seasons. But fortunately for the Cowboys, Tolbert is earning his spot, to the point where he’s making a strong case to make the game-day roster of 48 players each week.”

In 2022, the third-rounder out of South Alabama had just two catches for 12 yards. He surpassed those numbers in the preseason game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, posting two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. Tolbert also had four catches for 66 yards on Saturday night against the Seahawks.

The final name the Cowboys insider included is KaVontae Turpin. Turpin looked shakey in the first preseason game, fumbling a kick return when he was supposed to fair catch it, but ultimately, he’s too valuable to consider parting ways with. Especially now that he’s expanding his role as a receiver as well.

If everything goes as predicted, Turpin and Tolbert will join CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup on the gameday lineup for Week 1.