RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesMay 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Michael Trigg (46) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dallas Cowboys are at training camp and some of the players have given the coaches a lot to think about so far. There are a few who need a really strong camp to even have a shot at being considered for the team. Some of that has been the result of circumstances out of their control, and sometimes it’s their own efforts.
Next Saturday the team plays its first game of the preseason, and it presents a chance for the fringe players to shine. Who are the fringe guys that have impressed so far? Furthermore, who are the players that are taking advantage of a fast start to make moves toward earning a spot on the roster? Here are the players who are angling for a spot on the team.
Michael Trigg
Following the draft, Michael Trigg signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. Dallas signed Trigg to a three-year contract worth up to $3.1M. Trigg was a finalist for the Mackey Award and was named an All-American in his final year at Baylor. Trigg is more like a big wide receiver than a traditional tight end. Because of this, he is a mismatch for linebackers and a handful for them to keep up with him in coverage. He has flashed his talents at training camp, and everyone is starting to take notice.
The Michael Trigg hype train is off and running pic.twitter.com/QUsZ5nunYN
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 3, 2026
The Cowboys also got word that fellow tight end Princeton Fant went down with a season-ending knee injury. Fant may have already been on the fringe, but his absence opens a door that Trigg’s talent could see him run through. With Fant out of the picture, Trigg is going to get extended looks to build on what he’s already done. Two solid preseason games, and the Cowboys may not want to risk losing him.
Sam Williams
Although Sam Williams has been a part of the team since 2022, it’s very clear that nothing will be guaranteed to him. Williams rejoined the Cowboys on a one-year contract with a base salary of only $1.4M. Obviously, the team has much more invested in the players ahead of him on the roster. To the detriment of the team but also to the benefit of Williams for the time being, the collective pass rush hasn’t done so well.
This has allowed Williams to stand out from the rest of the pack. Williams has terrific athleticism relative to the edge rusher position. We have seen him showcase his talents as a gunner and, at times in camp, has looked fairly good in coverage.
Sam Williams meets Jaydon Blue in the backfield pic.twitter.com/jIoYArkkLt
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) August 4, 2026
Sam Williams vs Drew Shelton pic.twitter.com/6898cHCJH3
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) August 4, 2026
Williams and James Houston appear locked into a hotly contested roster battle, and Houston had a solid day Monday as well as picked up a sack in practice. Williams can earn a spot not only by his own merits but also in some part by default if others don’t step it up to keep serve with Williams. Now in his fifth year, if the lights do come on for him, it could be the perfect time for the team and for Williams.
Curtis Robinson
Curtis Robinson hasn’t played much in the NFL since going undrafted in 2021. He’s mostly maintained his spot in the NFL as a core special teams player. Yet, the Cowboys have given him a little more responsibility. He, along with others, has been entrusted with wearing the defensive green dot to relay defensive signals to the defense. Unlike his other linebacker counterparts like Justin Barron, for example, he has a little more in-game experience on defense and has logged a lot of time on special teams coverage.
PICK-6! Curtis Robinson takes it to the 🏠 Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/8P3YGE8sAT
— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2025
That alone has given him a leg up on the competition as he battles for one of the lower spots on the depth chart. There’s still a long way to go, but if Robinson can stay the course and continue to validate the coaches’ faith in his cognitive abilities, he might make it out of camp with a roster spot.
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