From veteran disappointments to injury setbacks, training camp battles in Oxnard could force the Cowboys to cut established names as rising talent threatens to overhaul the roster.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys, like most NFL teams, preach "competition'' while at the same time privately feeling fairly certain - even before the start of training camp - what the final 53-man roster might look like.
Therefore, the idea of "surprise cuts'' is often exaggerated.
But cuts involving veterans that would make such moves noteworthy? Yes, Dallas figures to have a few of those.
So ...
Are these five Cowboys in roster-bubble trouble?
Malik Davis, Running Back
Davis came off the couch last fall and ended up getting 250 yards and two TDs in relief of Javonte Williams largely due to Malik's reliability ...
Something that couldn't be said of rookie running back Jaydon Blue at the time.
But the tide seems to have turned.
There's a good chance that Davis will do nothing wrong at all at camp in Oxnard, but that he will nevertheless find himself behind Blue .. and maybe out of a job entirely.
Jonathan Mingo, Wide Receiver
Mingo was a Panthers second-round pick in 2023 but by 2024, Carolina was ready to move on. Dallas sent a fourth-round pick to the Panthers for Mingo, a move that seemed like an overpay at the time.
And it remains that way.
Mingo has appeared in 14 games with Dallas, having produced just six catches for 71 yards. ... and this summer he's dealing with a groin injury that kept him out of action for minicamp.
That's a dubious spot to be in, given that he already seemed like a longshot just to be the fifth receiver here.
Luke Schoonmaker, Tight End
The Cowboys remain haunted by a NFL Draft during which they committed a cardinal sin: They "drafted positions'' instead of "drafting players.''
In the second round that year, they took Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who by now should be bidding for a starting spot.
Instead, he's nowhere close to Jake Ferguson. And Brevyn Spann-Ford is a better player than he is. And UDFA Michael Trigg is a better athlete.
Marist Liufau, Outside Linebacker
Did Dallas move Liufau to a new position because he's poised to become a stud pass-rusher? Or did it happen because of his shortcomings as a linebacker?
Playing as an edge is something Liufau's never really done before, and that's only part of his uphill battle.
Also consider that likely ahead of him on the depth chart will be Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, Sam Williams and James Houston.
We don't see much of a fit here for an extra guy who might just be a JAG, no matter where you line him up.
KaVontae Turpin, Return Specialist
So, this one would be a shocker.
He's an All-Pro return guy and a unique weapon on offense ... though it is true that he fell short of excelling in those jobs in 2025.
At receiver, Ryan Flournoy is the No. 3 guy behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. And as a return guy? There is some speculation that maybe Blue could push Turpin.
But "push him'' right off the roster?
We're voting against that concept, believing that it would be wiser to take a bit off of Turpin's offensive plate so that he's free to focus on getting back to being the All-Pro returner that before 2025 scared the entire league.
In the end? We bet there won't be too many "shockers'' when it comes to Dallas roster moves ... but CowboysRoundtable.com will be on the scene in Oxnard ... just in case.
