Malik Nabers vs. Cowboys: Inactives List; Who's in & Who's Out vs. Giants?

Brian Schottenheimer's Dallas Cowboys will be aiming to start the season off with a bang against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

After an offseason of such overwhelming positivity, the Cowboys come into Week 1 looking to put last year firmly in the rearview mirror with Christian Parker taking over the defense.

Plus, Dak Prescott and Co. in Year 2 with Schottenheimer on offense, after being so explosive last season, can the group be as good, if not better, with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens?

We'd like to think so.

But getting a win first up is crucial.

And now we know who will be taking the field in Week 1, and who won't, as Dallas' inactives list has dropped.

WR Camden Brown

RB Israel Abanikanda

OLB Tyrus Wheat

CB Caelen Carson

OT Ajani Cornelius

So, offseason star Brown is a healthy scratch, while Abanikanda out, means it will be Williams, Emari Demercado and Hunter Luepke at running back.

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The big storyline here - in addition to New York's young star Malik Nabers being active - is Parker's defense and the NFL world finally getting to see his new-look unit.

Quinnen Williams, Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Caleb Downs, DaRon Bland, DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters and Shavon Revel will all be close watches against the Giants.

After a season in which Dallas had the worst defense in football, what kind of improvement will we see?

On the other side of the ball, can Dak and Co. continue on their high-octane ways?

Javonte Williams is the lead back, with Ryan Flournoy now WR3 behind Lamb and Pickens, coupled with Jake Ferguson and Brevyn Spann-Ford, Dallas has weapons everywhere.

But the red zone was a big bugaboo last season, with the Cowboys ranked 16th for turning a red zone trip into a touchdown.

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That's not good, and it has been a big emphasis this offseason, with the Cowboys' red zone work notable in Oxnard and the joint practices against the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints.

But now real football is here and everything counts.

The Cowboys enter this season with a level of hope and optimism not seen in years, much of it tied to Parker's defense and what it could become in 2026.

It's been a long offseason, but we've finally made it.

Cowboys football is here.