Mazi Smith under the gun even as Brandon Aubrey shines among Cowboys’ rookies

Aside from one obvious exception, the Cowboys’ 2023 rookie class did not make much of an impact in Sunday night’s win over the Eagles.

With a key injury on the defensive line coming from Sunday’s game, that may have to change.

The Cowboys’ first-round selection, Mazi Smith, may be called on to raise the level of his play over the next four weeks.

Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter. He may be out until the playoffs.

However long he is out, it will fall on the team’s other defensive tackles to replace his production.

For Smith, that means its time to prove Dallas chose correctly when they took him with their first pick back in April.

Mazi Smith

(1st Round – Michigan – Defensive Tackle)

Smith saw 13 snaps on defense and one on special teams without recording a single snap.

Mazi Smith

He was on the field for 24 percent of the defensive snaps on Sunday night against the Eagles. Smith is still getting moved around by the opposing offenses.

That is something that will need to change, especially if Hankins’ ankle-injury is more serious than originally feared.

The Cowboys have reportedly shut the door on bringing in a veteran free agent. Instead, they are going to lean more on Smith.

He’ll be tested over the next few weeks and Dallas’ chances to win the NFC East and possibly the No. 1 playoff seed may ride on his shoulders.

Luke Schoonmaker

(2nd Round – Michigan – Tight End)

Schoonmaker saw 19 offensive snaps and another 13 on special teams on Sunday. He was not targeted a single time.

But he was credited with one tackle on a third quarter punt return.

Jake Ferguson has securely locked up the starting tight end position. Schoonmaker will have to find ways to take more advantage of his time on the field.

DeMarvion Overshown

(3rd Round – Texas – Linebacker)

Overshown continues to rehab from a pre-season knee injury suffered in Seattle.

Viliami Fehoko

(4th Round – San Jose State – Edge)

Fehoko was inactive once again. He has yet to see any action in a regular season game this year.

Asim Richards

(5th Round – North Carolina – Offensive Tackle)

Richards was inactive for the fifth straight game.

He has been inactive in seven of the Cowboys’ 13 games this season.

Eric Scott Jr.

(6th Round – New Mexico – Defensive Back)

Scott was inactive once again. He has yet to see any action in a regular season game this year.

Deuce Vaughn

(6th Round – Kansas State – Running Back)

Deuce Vaughn

Vaughn was inactive for the fourth-straight game and seventh overall for the year. He has 38 rushing yards and 11 receiving yards for the year.

Barring an injury, Vaughn’s time as the darling of Dallas appears to be over.

Jalen Brooks

(7th Round – South Carolina – Wide Receiver)

Brooks was inactive, the eighth time in 13 games he has not suited up. Brooks has five catches for 63 yards on the season.

T.J. Bass

(UDFA – Oregon – Guard)

Bass was active but only saw seven snaps on special teams.

With the Cowboys’ offensive line remaining healthy over the past weeks, Bass hasn’t seen much action on offense.

But he has proven he can fill in when needed. The Cowboys are hoping he isn’t going to be needed anytime soon.

Hunter Luepke

(UDFA – North Dakota State – Running Back)

Luepke saw eight snaps on offense and another 15 on special teams. He did not record a single stat in Sunday’s win.

Luepke has been a blocking fullback when used on offense, especially near the goal line.

Eventually, it would be nice to see the Cowboys hand him the ball on the goal line. He does have one touchdown on the year on three rushing attempts.

Brandon Aubrey

(UDFA – Notre Dame – Kicker)

The biggest surprise of the 2023 rookies class continues to be totally Aubrey-matic.

Aubrey extended his NFL record for field goals made to begin a career to 30 with four field goals against the Eagles.

Brandon Aubrey hit all four field goals and three extra point attempts against the Eagles on Sunday. (AP Photo)

And they weren’t chip shots either. Aubrey connected from 60, 59, 45, and 50 yards on Sunday night.

Add in his three made extra points and he personally outscored Philadelphia 15-13.

The Cowboys’ kicking game was a huge question mark at the beginning of this year. It is no longer.

The really good news is that Aubrey is signed through the end of the 2025 season, meaning the position should be of no concern for some time.