3 Cowboys Players to Look Out for in Preseason Week 1 Matchup Against 49ers

While everyone is focused on the Ezekiel Elliott holdout and the contract negotiations with Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, you'd be remiss if you didn't remember the Dallas Cowboys are in action this weekend. On Saturday, the Cowboys travel to Santa Clara, Calif. to take on the San Francisco 49ers.

Given the amount of news to come out of Cowboys camp, there a handful of players to keep an eye on throughout their preseason opener. Here are three that come to mind.

3. Taco Charlton

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The Cowboys were dealt a significant blow in the form of Robert Quinn. First, he fractured his hand during practice. Then on Thursday, Quinn was given a two-game suspension for a performance enhancing drug violation. It's next man up, and that individual is Taco Charlton. The former Michigan pass rusher hasn't exactly lived up to his 2018 first round selection. He'll get his first true test to impress, as he vouches for starting edge rusher role opposite DeMarcus Lawrence.

2. Jason Witten

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Let's face it, everyone wants to see how tight end Jason Witten performs in his first NFL action on Saturday. Witten returns after a one-year hiatus as one of the voices of Monday Night Football. From the looks of videos from Cowboys training camp, Witten is showing no rust and making ridiculous one-handed catches. Cowboys fans will want to see how Dallas' "security blanket" plays against the 49ers, even if it is for just a single drive.

1. Tony Pollard

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Ezekiel Elliott won't be playing in the preseason, and quite possibly not for the majority of the 2019 regular season. With the former fourth overall pick out of the picture, the starter by default is Darius Jackson. However, keep an eye on fourth-round pick Tony Pollard, who has caught the attention of the team and media in Oxnard, Calif. As a backup at Memphis, Pollard logged 1,010 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. Pollard possess speed and good hands in the passing game. If Pollard impresses against the 49ers, he could skyrocket up the depth chart.