The top of the Cowboys’ receiving group is set, but this isn’t what mattered against Seattle in the first preseason game.
The questions are behind CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, and Jake Ferguson, where Dallas has more players than spots. One receiver in particular made the decision either easier or harder, depending on how you want to look at it.
That receiver was Camden Brown in his first NFL game, even if it was preseason.
Camden Brown Willed Himself Into the Conversation
On Saturday night, Camden Brown was the guy.
We watched as he only needed three targets and finished with three receptions, 62 yards and two touchdowns. The 39-yard score showed he could make plays downfield, and then he came back with a one-handed touchdown grab in the end zone.
Not bad for 27 offensive snaps, if I do say so myself.
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I think the most important thing to remember is this performance didn’t come out of nowhere. Brown has been showing up in camp. Then showed up in the game and kept doing what he does.
If he can keep up this type of play, Dallas is going to have to find a spot for him.
Jonathan Mingo Finally Showed Something
Jonathan Mingo didn’t do anything spectacular. He caught both of his targets for 20 yards, helped move the chains on third down and made a big tackle on special teams.
I feel like this is what Dallas wanted out of him from the beginning. Dallas doesn’t need Mingo getting eight targets a game, and we all know there isn’t that many balls to go around. They just need him to catch the ball when it comes his way, block, and play special teams.
Just be useful.
That’s exactly what he looked like against Seattle. We didn’t see a breakout game. He was just useful, and that’s a great place for Mingo to start.
The Remaining Receivers
Rookie seventh round pick Anthony Smith got the most work of the group of receivers with 39 offensive snaps. He ended up with two catches for 28 yards on five targets.
I saw the speed in his game, but Dallas gave him chances, and he needs to capitalize a little more on the opportunities.
Then we have Jordan Hudson who caught both of his targets for 15 yards and made a good catch in traffic. I don’t know if there’s room for him on the 53, but I want to see more from this young man.
Next is Tyler Johnson, who caught two passes for 25 yards on just 11 snaps. Solid production, but not enough to leap frog the two ahead of him.
Camden Brown made an impression. Johnson, Hudson, and Smith need that type of preseason game or are practice squad bound.
As for Marquez Valdes-Scantling, he may be headed for the same fate as Traeshon Holden. Holden was cut, and it was expected after his muffed punt inside the five-yard line, you cannot do that in the preseason. Scantling didn’t do anything with his snaps and was outdone by younger players.
That is a disaster for a veteran.
Michael Trigg Will Catch a Spot
Michael Trigg was the tight end who gave Dallas something in the passing game in their first preseason game.
He caught four passes on five targets for 30 yards, but we knew he could catch. I want to see if the rest of his game is good enough.
I didn’t hate the blocking I saw from Trigg. Is his technique perfect? No, but he showed he has been working on it. It still needs work, but if his efforts continue in that area, this young man could be another undrafted gem the Cowboys uncovered.
The other tight ends did not give us much. D.J. Rogers caught one pass for two yards and Zack Kuntz caught one for a two-yard loss. I didn’t see anything from these two that jumped off the screen.
Jake Ferguson has nothing to worry about, and Brevyn Spann-Ford has a role. After those two I’m not assuming anything, but Michael Trigg has more upside than Luke Schoonmaker.
Decisions, Decisions for the Cowboys
Camden Brown is the one I came away from the first preseason game thinking about.
Jonathan Mingo helped himself, Michael Trigg made things interesting at tight end, Jordan Hudson deserves another look, and Anthony Smith needs more to get going.
But Camden Brown is the one who changed the conversation in the receivers room. Before Seattle, he was fighting for a roster spot.
Now I’m starting to wonder who loses one if he stacks games like that one, and if Dallas decides they can’t cut him.
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