There aren’t many starting jobs available for the Dallas Cowboys heading into training camp. The most noteworthy comes at the running back position as the Cowboys try to replace Rico Dowdle, but the battle between Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders doesn’t bring out a lot of excitement.
However, there is one camp battle that could really cause a stir this offseason. For the first time since 2021, we don’t know who the starting defensive end will be opposite Micah Parsons heading into Week 1.
That role has been filled by Demarcus Lawrence, but he has since moved on in free agency and the Cowboys have a bunch of defensive ends competing for that job. The Cowboys are hopeful that they have enough depth at the position to fill his void, but it remains unclear who will be on the field for the first defensive snap against the Eagles.
Cowboys' defensive end battle could be highly entertaining in training camp
The expectation is that Dante Fowler Jr. will get the first crack at that job after re-signing with the Cowboys this offseason. Fowler racked up 10.5 sacks for the Commanders last season and has developed into a solid starter over the past few seasons. However, he is not the most disciplined run defender, and the Cowboys could opt for more size at the right defensive end spot.
That could mean that Marshawn Kneeland could get an extended look after being a second-round pick during the 2024 NFL Draft. Kneeland is a bigger-bodied defensive end who was drafted because of his ability to stop the run. But a midseason injury cost him a significant chunk of his rookie season, and the hope is that he can take a big step forward in 2025.
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Another option on the right side is Sam Williams, who tore his ACL during the first week of training camp. Williams has been a part-time player for most of his NFL career, but he’s added muscle and bulk to help stop the run. He is close to being 100 percent healthy and should be ready to go for Week 1, so don’t rule out the possibility that he ends up starting right away. He’s one of the most physically gifted defensive players on the roster, and the Cowboys might decide to gamble on his athleticism at that spot.
If Fowler, Kneeland, and Williams all have strong training camps, that’ll be an excellent sign for the Cowboys and their defense moving forward. All three players will play a significant role on defense, especially with Matt Eberflus using a heavy substitution package. So, the role of the “starter” isn’t quite as important as, say, quarterback or cornerback.
Still, this is a spot to keep an eye on during camp, as an intense battle will be great news for the Cowboys' overall outlook this season.