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Three things to watch in Cowboys-Raiders: Will Grier’s last stand

Dallas agreed to acquire 49ers QB Trey Lance on Friday evening, reducing Grier to a certain roster casualty.

All the practices. All the meetings. All the workouts.

They have led to one final impression Saturday evening.

The Cowboys have a good sense of how their 53-man roster will look Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT upon reducing from 90 players. But there is still a little gray area entering the preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. Individual performance and potential injuries can sway how final spots are allocated.

Here are three things to watch.

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Will Grier’s last stand

Playing quarterback involves reading and reacting to adverse circumstances.

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A wild one was just thrown at Will Grier.

The Cowboys agreed Friday evening to acquire San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2021, for a 2024 fourth-round pick. Lance failed to impress during an extensive opportunity with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, a respected offensive mind who had every incentive to make the franchise’s premium draft investment a success.

For that reason, there should be discomfort in the odds this Lance lottery ticket hits. But it was a ticket the Cowboys nonetheless felt compelled to play, hoping their environment can be the change Lance cleared needs.

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Grier is absolutely the odd man out.

Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush and Lance will be quarterbacks on the roster to begin the season. Grier will be cut in the days ahead. But in the interim, Grier is expected to play all of Saturday’s exhibition, guiding a Cowboys offense for the final time. Thirty-one other NFL clubs will evaluate the game film he produces, and composure he demonstrates, during a whirlwind weekend.

This is his last stand.

Judgment time for 2021 draft class

The Cowboys have been patient with their drafted talent. Very patient.

Since coach Mike McCarthy arrived in 2020, no rookie draft pick has failed to survive a cutdown to the 53-man roster. Twenty-four of the 27 selections from 2020 to 2022 are still with the organization today, including all 11 players chosen in 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic and changing college landscape influenced that approach, McCarthy said this week. But at some point, a team must decide what a player is not.

It is judgment time for the 2021 class.

“I’ve been in this draft and development mode since 2006,” McCarthy said. “I think the third year was a really consistent indicator when you looked at your draft classes.”

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Linebacker Micah Parsons, of course, was a home-run hit in the first round. He won’t play Saturday. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa in the third round has impressed.

Beyond that, there are questions.

Safety Israel Mukuamu and defensive lineman Chauncey Golston should be safe Tuesday, but each is part of an extremely crowded position group and played into the fourth quarter in the first two exhibitions.

How many players between cornerback Kelvin Joseph, cornerback Nahshon Wright, linebacker Jabril Cox, guard-tackle Josh Ball, wide receiver Simi Fehoko, nose tackle Quinton Bohanna and center/guard Matt Farniok are still with the organization in a few days? Joseph is a second-round pick, but there are alternatives at nickel corner and on special teams.

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Wright won’t play Saturday because of an ankle injury, and he is a candidate to begin the regular season on injured reserve. The others look to reward the franchise’s prolonged patience in their development.

Patience has its limits.

Kicker déjà vu

Last summer, following his first USFL season, Brandon Aubrey worked out for three teams in hopes of earning an NFL opportunity. The Seattle Seahawks came first. The Jacksonville Jaguars were second. The Raiders followed.

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Those oddly were the same three opponents on the Dallas preseason schedule.

Once again, the Raiders represent his final opportunity.

Aubrey has been solid overall, particularly since Aug. 7 when the Cowboys made him their only kicker in camp. But it may require an excellent performance, one with more opportunities than he was afforded last Saturday in Seattle, to Dallas decision-makers full confidence in giving the Plano Senior grad the job.

The Cowboys offered Aubrey eight kickoffs, five extra points and a 29-yard field goal in the first two exhibitions. All eight kickoffs resulted in a touchback. On Aug. 12, against the Jaguars, he missed one extra point and converted the short field goal.

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He received just two extra points and three kickoffs last Saturday.

Perhaps more chances for Aubrey can be manufactured this time.

Twitter: @GehlkenNFL

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