5 Jaguars players to monitor vs. the Cowboys in Week 1 of the preseason

No. 4 Jaguars player to watch in Preseason Week 1: D'Ernest Johnson, RB

How many carries will Travis Etienne get against the Cowboys? Five, optimally fewer. As Doug Pederson noted, players need to get used to the speed but there's no point in giving their starting running back a big workload if they want him to start the 2023 season with fresh legs.

For this reason, the coaching staff will most probably spread the workload and feed other running backs. Right now, Tank Bigsby seems to be in the driver's seat to be the primary backup behind Etienne. However, D'Ernest Johnson, who signed a one-year deal in free agency, showed big-play capability during his stint with the Cleveland Browns.

If Johnson remains the Jags what he's capable of, his chances of securing a roster spot and getting a few carries now and then in 2023 will increase considerably.

No. 3 Jaguars player to watch in Preseason Week 1: Elijah Cooks, WR

Undrafted free agents tend to have a steep hill to climb to make an NFL roster and in wide receiver Elijah Cooks' case, it will be considerably harder due to the surplus the Jaguars have at the position. The top four spots on the depth chart are already earmarked for Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Jamal Agnew. That potential leaves just one spot up for grabs and rookie Parker Washington seems to be a favorite to get it.

It will be up to Cooks, and other receivers such as Tim Jones, Kendric Pryor, and Kevin Austin Jr. to make an impression in training camp. At 6-5, Cooks could be a threat in the red zone but he first needs to show he can be counted on when he gets his chance against the Cowboys.