Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker to play in Dallas Cowboys preseason opener

Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys decided to invest in a couple of Michigan players during the 2023 NFL Draft. The Wolverines have made two straight College Football Playoff appearances and been one of the best teams in the country. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith and tight end Luke Schoonmaker both played a huge part in the success.

Now, the opportunity to play in the NFL has arrived. After dealing with some injuries during training camp, Smith and Schoonmaker are ready to get onto the field. Jon Machota of The Athletic said they will both play during Dallas’ opening preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“Cowboys rookies DT Mazi Smith (knee), TE Luke Schoonmaker (foot) will both play today,” Machota said on Twitter.

Smith was a surprised draft pick from the Cowboys in April. Rarely does the franchise invest in a defensive tackle in the first round but Smith was too good of a prospect to pass up. He is going to be a key contributor against the run up the middle — something Dallas will need when facing fellow NFC competitors.

The concern around Smith’s knee came up during training camp. An MRI was required but a deep sigh of relief came out of Oxnard when the results were positive.

As for Schoonmaker, he has not been to present in training camp. He practiced for the first time just five days ago, dealing with a foot injury — as Machota noted. There are opportunities at tight end this season for Dallas.

Dallas Cowboys to rest key veterans against Jacksonville

Cowboy fans will be excited to see Smith and Schoonmaker on Saturday. But some of the franchise’s top players will not see the field. Head coach Mike McCarthy is not willing to have them playing live snaps this early in the calendar.

Cooper Rush will start the game at quarterback, getting Dak Prescott off his feet. Injuries have been a concern over the past few seasons for Prescott. No reason for him to put himself in a potentially dangerous situation in what would be a meaningless game for him.

A mix of rookies, firing roster guys, and younger players will have the opportunity to play. The preseason games are a great place to make a name for yourself, especially from a fan’s standpoint. But putting together a good game on tape could be the difference between making the final 53 and being cut.