Cowboys Rest Starters in Preseason Opener, Backups Carry the Load in Loss
Dallas Cowboys defeated by Los Angeles Rams - 2025 Preseason Week 1
The Cowboys’ first preseason game is done, and the scoreboard says Rams 31, Cowboys 21. But the real story is who did not play.
Dallas kept the stars on the sideline—no Prescott, Lamb, or Parsons. Instead, the night belonged to players fighting for roster spots. While some teams, like the Chiefs and Bengals, put their starters on the field for a few series, Dallas went the other way and treated this game as a pure evaluation night.
It was not the best start. The Rams scored twice in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead. The Cowboys’ offense finally found some rhythm in the second quarter, finishing with 99 first-half rushing yards, according to Pro Football Reference. Two field goals from Brandon Aubrey cut the deficit to 14-6 at halftime.
Quarterback Joe Milton went 17-for-29 for 143 yards with one interception, per Pro Football Reference. Backup Will Grier stepped in for a short stint, completing two passes and adding a rushing touchdown. Next Gen Stats charted Dallas quarterbacks with an average time to throw of 2.71 seconds, suggesting the offensive line gave them just enough time to work the short game.
Defensively, Dallas struggled against the run. The Rams racked up 181 rushing yards on 31 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt, according to Pro Football Reference. Missed tackles and 11 penalties for 85 yards hurt momentum. One bright spot came from a one-handed interception by Israel Mukuamu, while rookie linebacker Marist Liufau showed speed in sideline pursuit.
Like I mentioned in my Week 1 preseason preview, this game was more about evaluation than results. Coaches focused on extended looks for the second and third units, and the veterans had a night off.
Whether the starters played or not will not necessarily change much come September or hopefully January. But here is my opinion. Your stars should be hungry to get out there, even for a series. There is value in feeling live contact, hearing the crowd, and setting the tone for the season. Practice cannot give you all of that.
Still, the plan made sense. No major injuries occurred, and a few bubble players made the most of their reps. The tape will give Brian Schottenheimer and his staff plenty to work with before Week 2 of the preseason against the Baltimore Ravens.
The loss does not matter. What matters is whether the rest the starters got and the experience the backups gained will pay off when the real games begin.