jonGood morning, Cowboys Nation, and welcome to game week!
The Dallas Cowboys play a football game this week, and I can’t wait.
After a fun, exciting summer full of trades and extensions, the time has finally come to watch a meaningful game.
With a fun season ahead, and while I have focused a lot on the big-time players on this roster, it’s time to shift gears for this post.
I wanted to show some love to a few players I think are under the radar in 2023.
These players very well could not see the field, and yet are guys I think could help the Cowboys win a game or two if called upon.
They made the 53-man roster for a reason, so who knows?
Hunter Luepke
Hunter Luepke is the first player on my list.
Luepke will struggle to find significant playing time with Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn in front of him.
Nonetheless, his unique skill set is something the Cowboys can use every week.
He is listed as a fullback, and with Ezekiel Elliott gone, Luepke may get a chance in short-down packages.
He is a downhill, powerful runner.
He showed what he could do in the preseason finale against the Raiders—totaling 118 yards and one touchdown.
T.J Bass
T.J. Bass is a really good player, folks.
I have been high on Bass since the Cowboys were able to sign him as an undrafted free agent.
I still have no idea how he was not picked in the draft this season.
He was the only Cowboys offensive lineman not to allow a pressure all preseason.
The Oregon product was clean in all 80 of his pass protection snaps.
The Cowboys’ offensive line is good right now. The only problem they may run into is injuries.
If that happens, I firmly believe Bass can step in and hold it down until someone returns.
Johnathan Hankins
Johnathan Hankins is bigger for this football team than fans realize.
The 330-pound defensive tackle helped the run defense.
He needs to get talked about more.
His presence was noticed when they traded for him mid-season a year ago. He helped slow down Dalvin Cook and Jonathan Taylor.
They now add Mazi Smith with him.
The run defense is going to be a heck of a lot better this season.
That is why the Cowboys jump from the 2nd or 3rd best defense in football to the top of the chart.
These three players could help the Cowboys win a game or two in the 2023 season.
From Luepke picking up a big 4th and 1 to extend the game, to Hankins being right in the middle on a 4th and one stop to win a football game.
Bass might have his chance if anything happens to the starting offensive line.
We just heard Tyler Smith get banged up at practice yesterday, so he needs to stay ready.
I love the makeup of this team.
The most talented on both sides of the ball since maybe 2007. The time is now.