Dallas Cowboys padded practice reveals a brutal audition for nearly two dozen roster spots as competition heats up for the final preseason week. Jerry Jones framed the scene as young players showing they belong, with about 20 jockeying for jobs in the coming days before Friday’s Cowboys-Falcons tilt.

Health is a concern: at least 13 players were sidelined or limited, and Micah Parsons sat through portions in a hold-in stance while Earnest Brown IV joined the casualty list with a right-leg issue, intensifying the depth questions on both edges and the rotation ahead of Week 1 fantasy implications.

For fantasy managers, the practice trenches are where value can appear. The depth players stepping up in padded drills and the injury reshuffles could unlock sleeper targets on defense and in the Cowboys’ surrounding units. Track practice reports closely for punt- and kick-coverage, pass rush, and rotational snaps that could carve out real-season roles, especially if Parsons’ workload remains managed into the opener.