News: BTB: Five winners and four losers from the Cowboys and Raiders preseason game

[NewsBot]

Besides the final score, there were other winners and losers from the Cowboys preseason “dress rehearsal.”

As we do each week, we check in on who won and who lost in the previous game. This time, we take a look at the Cowboys versus Raiders game.

Winners


Ezekiel Elliott - He really didn’t do much, he had six carries for 18 yards, and two catches for six yards. That’s not Zeke-like numbers. Still, he got in, got some action and got out without any injuries. With all that has happened with Zeke recently, that’s some good news.

Jason Witten - The GOAT had a tremendous game with a touchdown on six catches for 74 yards. Just like Tony Romo before him, Dak Prescott knows that when he needs a catch, look for #82. Vintage Witten.

Jaylon Smith - A second week of good play without incident with the knee is a winner. Smith increased his workload ever so slightly and ended up with three tackles including a tackle for loss. He’s still not 100% Godbacker, and who knows if he will ever be again, but he’s looking like he can play and should continue to get better.

Cooper Rush - He got the second string QB reps and in the process guaranteed himself a spot on the roster. His night started a little slow, and he did fumble the ball that turned into a score for the Raiders (even though it wasn’t really his fault), but he ended up going 12 of 13 for 115 yards, two touchdowns and a 143.1 rating. He should be the backup.

Lewis Neal - The backup defensive lineman continues to impress. We’ve heard about his play in training camp and how much the coaches like him. On Saturday night he ended up with a sack, and another tackle for loss, a productive and disruptive night. He’s forcing the Cowboys to think about his position on the team.

Losers


La’el Collins - After a nice run of preseason games, Collins was a penalty machine on Saturday night. It wasn’t like he was a disaster and it was just a jailbreak on his side, but he’s got to clean up his technique, including getting his hands up high and into the face of the opponent.

Starting secondary - There seemed to be some confusion on two touchdown passes for the Raiders in the first quarter. Nolan Carroll turned a guy lose, but safety Jeff Heath was not ready to pick him up leading to an easy score. Then Anthony Brown played underneath on a pump fake, but Byron Jones bit and the Raiders strolled to the end zone. It’s hard to know just who was at fault, but the starers need to get it together. You can’t give up touchdowns that easy.

Chaz Green - He got a chance to run with the ones in the all-important dress rehearsal, and he got hurt, again. Even if he has the talent to start at left guard, his durability is a huge issue. He might just end up being a reserve forever because the team can’t count on him being able to play a full schedule.

Kellen Moore - Not much more needs to be said. Now, he’s just fighting to keep a roster spot.

Tragic


Anthony Hitchens - I won’t even put Hitchens in the loser column, but make up his own column of tragic. If it indeed turns out to be an ACL injury, that’s incredibly bad news for the Cowboys, and for Hitchens who was having a great camp and preseason.

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