Which Cowboys should be auditioning for 2026 in 2025’s finale?

There will be absolutely nothing to play for when the Dallas Cowboys face the Giants in New York next weekend. Except maybe for jobs in the 2026 season.

The best that Dallas can hope for is to finish 8-8-1 and avoid a second-straight losing season.

But even a loss against the Giants on Jan. 4^th and a 7-9-1 finish would leave the Cowboys a half-game better than their 2024 record of 7-10.

Which begs the question, especially in light of yesterday’s injuries to Javonte Williams and Jake Ferguson, is it worth playing the regular starters? Or is it time to evaluate for next year’s roster?

Playing For Pride

Shaking off a three-game losing streak with yesterday’s 30-23 win over Washington was good for morale. Ending the year with a win over the Giants would also be a good boost.

After starting the year at 3-5-1, the Cowboys would post a 5-3 record over the second half of the season by beating New York.

That would definitely give the team some momentum going into next season.

But is that enough to risk injuries to key players in what in reality is a meaningless game? Williams missed the entire second half with a shoulder injury.

Ferguson was ruled out during halftime, having suffered a calf injury.

As of this writing, not much is known about the severity of either injury, but this should give the Cowboys pause going forward.

The Kansas City Chiefs lost starting quarterbacks to knee injuries in back-to-back games.

They had to sign a guy off of Buffalo’s practice squad to back up their own guy who has been stuck on the practice squad for four years and was their starter last night.

Should Dallas risk a similar injury to Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens? What if any of them go down with a serious injury and aren’t ready to start the season in 2026?

They are so thin on defense, they probably don’t need to worry about that side of the roster.

But the bigger question is: Why should they? Perhaps it’s time to check down the roster and see who needs to be back in 2026 at all.

2026 Audition Time

Dallas needs to know if Ryan Flournoy could replace Pickens if they choose not to sign him.

They need to see if the speed-power combination of Malik Davis and Hunter Luepke can carry the team if they don’t sign Williams.

Maybe even get Jaydon Blue on the field. They need to know if this rookie fifth rounder can play or not.

Should Brevyn Spann-Ford be the back-up to Ferguson next year? He had a great 31-yard catch yesterday and is a better run blocker than Luke Schoonmaker.

The Cowboys started Shemar James, as was suggested here on Wednesday, and he rewarded them by tying for the team lead in tackles yesterday.

Start James Houston at edge along with Donovan Ezieruaku and see how they can team up to pressure Jaxson Dart.

Frankly, aside from DaRon Bland, the entire defensive backfield probably needs to be wearing different uniforms in 2026. Shavon Revel Jr. keeps getting burned on a regular basis.

But the bottom line is this.

Whoever does play in the 2025 finale, they need to understand they are playing for the right to come back to Dallas in 2026.