Every Cowboys Player Who Helped Their Roster Chances Against Cardinals

It was a lopsided game in the desert as the Dallas Cowboys handed the Arizona Cardinals a 34-13 defeat in front of their home crowd.

The Cowboys were the more aggressive team throughout this one, showing more urgency on both sides of the ball. They're now 2-0 and have one final preseason game remaining, as they face the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.

Before turning our attention to that one, let's take a look at several players who stood out against Arizona and made a case for their spot on the Cowboys 53-man roster.

Jonathan Mingo, WR

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo celebrates after he catches a pass for a first down against the Baltimore Ravens. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Entering the offseason, Jonathan Mingo seemed to have one foot out the door. Mingo has appeared in 14 regular-season games since being added in a trade during the 2024 season and has had just six receptions on 21 targets for 71 yards.

Mingo then put together a strong training camp and has been playing well in the preseason. On Saturday, he even recorded his first career touchdown, in the regular season or preseason, hauling in a beautiful deep ball from Joe Milton for a 53-yard score.

Joe Milton LAUNCHES it for a 53-yard TD pass to Jonathan Mingo 🚀

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Camden Brown, WR

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Camden Brown carries the ball at training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mingo's primary competition for a roster spot in Dallas is undrafted free agent Camden Brown. The Georgia Southern product burst onto the scene with two touchdown receptions in Week 1 of the preseason. This weekend, he picked up where he left off, taking a pass over the middle of the field from Joe Milton and turning it into a 69-yard gain.

Joe Milton to Camden Brown for a 69-yard gain!

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Brown fumbled the ball when extending for the goal line, but was fortunate to see it go out of bounds. Even with the fumble, it was another great sign for Brown, who ran an excellent route and gave his team the ball at the one-yard line. Brown had a second catch, which was rather impressive as well, as he took a massive hit but held onto the ball.

Julius Wood, S

Dallas Cowboys specialist Julius Wood reacts to a special teams play during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Unfortunately, a concussion forced Julius Wood to end his night early, but he made an impact before leaving. Wood had seven tackles and was involved in multiple run stops. He's proven to be a fearless player who excels when attacking the ball. There are still multiple safeties ahead of him in Dallas, but Wood deserves to be on an NFL roster in 2026.

Joe Milton III, QB

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III scrambles in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Sam Howell had the upper hand in the QB2 battle one week ago, but that's no longer the case. Milton got the start against Arizona and was calm and efficient throughout the first half.

Milton complete 9-of-13 passing attempts for 179 yards with two touchdown passes. He added another touchdown on the ground, and led the Cowboys into halftime with a 24-13 lead. Howell is still in the fight, but Milton took the lead back on Saturday night.

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