Week 1 Rookies: How the Dallas Cowboys’ New Faces Might Fit In

When the Dallas Cowboys step onto the field against the New York Giants on Sunday, fans will be watching more than just the usual veterans. Six fresh faces are sitting on the 53‑man roster, and the coaching staff is likely to give them at least a taste of action in the opening week.

First up is safety Caleb Downs. He spent most of camp working the slot, so expect the majority of his snaps to come there. He’ll still get a few looks as a safety, but the slot will be his primary gig – a natural fit after the reps he logged in training camp.

Linebacker Malachi Lawrence is a different story. He’s essentially a depth piece at edge, lurking behind Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Von Miller – maybe even James Houston. He’ll probably see a handful of defensive snaps, but don’t count on a big role right away.

Jaishawn Barham, meanwhile, impressed before his recent injury and lit up preseason Week 2. He’s likely to be the third linebacker on the depth chart, rotating behind Dee Winters and DeMarvion Overshown. In addition, the coaches might tinker with him on the edge in certain packages.

Offensive tackle Drew Shelton had a rocky camp and preseason, and while head coach Brian Schottenheimer labeled him the backup left tackle, the reality is a bit murkier. If the team leans on Broderick Jones for stability at right tackle, Shelton could be the first man off the bench at either spot, but his role may stay limited until he earns more trust.

On the interior defensive line, LT Overton will likely see a few rotations. The top three spots are locked to Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Otito Ogbonnia, with Jonathan Bullard sitting as a potential fourth if healthy. Overton’s snap count could rise a notch if Bullard is still a question‑mark.

Lastly, wide receiver Camden Brown – electric in camp and preseason – is projected to be inactive for the opener. He sits behind CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin and Jonathan Mingo. Even if the Cowboys decide to activate him, his contributions will likely be limited to special‑teams duties.

All told, Sunday night could be the first glimpse of how these rookies fit into Dallas’s broader scheme. It’ll be a modest start for most, but a few may earn early trust that could shape the rest of their rookie year.