Cowboys Projected Roster: Getting to 53

With just one preseason game to play, there only seems to be a handful of spots – at most – that are up for grabs. Because of the injury concerns, especially in the secondary, the Cowboys might have to go long there, and short at other positions just to get by.

Here’s a look at the projected 53-man roster, with two preseason games still to play:

Stock rising: Safety Mana Silva has a legitimate chance to make this team, especially in Week 1 with injuries to both Matt Johnson and Danny McCray. Silva has been a playmaker with a game-clinching interception in the first preseason game, and has been steady on special teams as well.

Stock falling: Rookie safety Matt Johnson appeared to have a lock on a roster spot being a fourth-round pick. But the fact he simply can’t stay healthy and the Cowboys have only had a handful of game snaps and just a few practices to go off of isn’t helping. Johnson has suffered a hamstring injury on both legs in training camp. It wasn’t his fault he was ineligible to practice this summer because of his school obligations, but the Cowboys just don’t have a big sample size to choose from.

QB -- In (2): Tony Romo, Kyle Orton. Out: Stephen McGee and Rudy Carpenter Analysis: McGee and Carpenter will likely get most of the reps in the preseason finale Wednesday against Miami. But they’re probably just auditioning for other teams. Carpenter could be on the practice squad here in Dallas.

RB -- In (5): DeMarco Murray, Felix Jones, Phillip Tanner, (FB) Lawrence Vickers and (FB) Shaun Chapas. Out: (FB/RB) Jamize Olawale and Lance Dunbar. Analysis: One change here is the addition of Chapas for Olawale. If Jason Witten is out, Chapas provides more on special teams. Olawale and Dunbar would be good practice squad candidates.

WR -- In (7): Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Kevin Ogletree, Andre Holmes, Cole Beasley, Danny Coale and Dwayne Harris Out: Saalim Hakim and Tim Benford. Analysis: The only real question mark would be Coale, who hasn’t played much because of injury. If the Cowboys find a better option at WR on the street, it could be for Coale. Hakim and Benford are both practice-squad type players and could be battling each other for that spot. Hakim has an advantage because of his blazing speed.

TE -- In (3): Jason Witten, John Phillips and James Hanna Out: Andrew Szczerba. Analysis: The big question mark centers on Witten’s health for the game. If he’s not ready, the Cowboys can probably get by with two TEs. It’s likely Szczerba is a player they’d like to keep around on the practice squad.

OL -- In (8): Tyron Smith, Doug Free, Nate Livings, Phil Costa, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Jermey Parnell, Ron Leary and David Arkin. Out: Pat McQuistan, Harland Gunn, Jeff Adams, Daniel Loper and Derrick Dockery. Analysis: Sticking with eight linemen this week but Parnell hasn’t performed well. They like him overall but McQuistan has been just as good.

DL -- In (7): Jay Ratliff, Jason Hatcher, Sean Lissemore, Kenyon Coleman, Tyrone Crawford, Josh Brent and Ben Bass Out: Marcus Spears, Robert Calloway and Clifton Geathers, Analysis: The ankle injury to Ratliff has this position in question. Spears could provide depth inside but Calloway has done a nice job competing with Brent. Bass could be expendable for those two but likely won’t return on the practice squad.

LB -- In (8): DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Dan Connor, Victor Butler, Alex Albright, Kyle Wilber Out: Baraka Atkins, Adrian Hamilton and Orie Lemon. Lemon remains on the bubble and could be a better special-teams option. Hamilton has upside as a pass rusher but doesn’t provide much on special teams right now. The Cowboys will hate to lose Hamilton to another team but need a spot because of the injuries in the secondary.

DB -- In (10): Brandon Carr, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Morris Claiborne, Gerald Sensabaugh, Barry Church, Danny McCray, Matt Johnson, Mana Silva, Mario Butler Out: Lionel Smith, Eddie Whitley, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Teddy Williams. Analysis: After taking Silva off last week, he’s back on, mainly because of injuries at safety. We’ll leave Matt Johnson on the team for now. He just hasn’t had enough time to show he can or cannot play.

Special teams -- In (3): Dan Bailey, Chris Jones, L.P. Ladouceur Out: None. Analysis: The Cowboys liked Charley Hughlett as a snapper but not enough to unseat the steady Ladouceur. No more competition remains for any spot.

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