(Editor's Note: Who doesn't love lists? Throughout training camp, 'High 5' will provide a top five list for many of the critical topics surrounding the Dallas Cowboys 2025 season.)
It's officially evaluation time for the Dallas Cowboys roster. Dallas fell in their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams this past Saturday. Combined with the joint-practice and a busy week of training camp, it provided the best look at who is really stepping up this preseason.
There were multiple players with significant performances last week. However, only a few that compounded their game performance with an already impressive month of camp. These are the five players who have taken advantage of their first three weeks of Cowboys training camp as well as the first preseason game on the West Coast:
5. Zion Childress
It was quite the debut for the undrafted rookie out of Kentucky. Amidst a battle for the starting nickel role, he led the team with six tackles while taking a team-high 27 snaps in the slot. Childress was only targeted once in 14 coverage opportunities, on a play-action bootleg to the flat that resulted in a six-yard gain. In addition, he tallied the highest tackling grade, highest run defense grade, and third-highest coverage grade for the Cowboys according to Pro Football Focus.
4. Phil Mafah
Another rookie standout came from behind the line of scrimmage. While Mafah's stat line won't jump off the screen, 10 carries for 36 yards and two receptions for 15 yards, he was impressive with his entire body of work. The seventh-round draft pick showed an instinctive ability to pick up the blitz and was given the second-highest pass blocking grade (PFF) on the team over a short sample size. With Jaydon Blue and Mile Sanders out for the last week with injuries, Mafah has made real strides in the Cowboys backfield.
3. Tyrus Wheat
Can't talk preseason without mentioning Tyrus Wheat, who has consistently shown his value in the preseason year-after-year. Outside of players like Dante Fowler Jr. and Donovan Ezeiruaku, Wheat has steadily been a strong presence in the pass rusher group during training camp. He backed that up on Saturday despite a disappointing result from the defensive line group. In his 50 defensive snaps he tallied four tackles, a team-high two pressures and one run stop. His best rep came early in the third quarter when his bull rush put right tackle A.J. Arcuri on his back and forced Stetson Bennett to immediately take off and run.
2. T.J. Bass
Multiple injuries and inconsistent play from the offensive line depth has provided another chance for T.J. Bass to step into a flex role up front. During his first two seasons in Dallas, Bass had not taken a single snap at center. He was instead a consistent backup option for both guard spots. However, after starting and taking 34 snaps at left guard on Saturday, he moved inside and played another 32 snaps at center. Not allowing a single pressure from either position.
1. Marist Liufau
How can you not love the physicality and speed that Liufau played with on Saturday. There have been times in training camp practices where the second-year linebacker has appeared to be flying to the right spot and in position to make a play. But it's impossible for him to show his grit in practice the same way he did against the Rams on Saturday. Especially when helped by the defensive tackles in front of him, he was confident in his run fits and played downhill with a vengeance. It should not be a surprise if he starts to see less snaps, or is told to take the pads off entirely, over the next two preseason matchups.
