5 things to watch in Cowboys vs. Dolphins preseason game

Quarterback Tony Romo returns to game action for the first time since Thanksgiving. So does tight end Jason Witten. But the NFL debut of rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott is on hold.

Still, the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason home opener against the Miami Dolphins provides plenty of intriguing storylines, beginning with Romo and what backup Dak Prescott has in store for an encore to his impressive preseason debut last week against the Los Angeles Rams.

Here are some storylines to watch for tonight:

Romo’s return

Tony Romo felt he had the best off-season of his career, and teammates and coaches have agreed throughout training camp. But this is the first time to see him in game action. Romo has said all the right things in camp and is ready to return to his 2014 form. However, as he put it earlier this week, “Words are meaningless. You’ve got to go prove it.”

Dak’s encore

The Cowboys have liked what they’ve seen from rookie quarterback Dak Prescott throughout the off-season and in training camp. And he calmed a lot of nerves when he had an impressive preseason debut against the Los Angeles Rams, leading owner Jerry Jones to say that the team would be comfortable if Prescott is Romo’s backup to start the season. But can Prescott keep a stranglehold on the backup job going into the second preseason game? He doesn’t have to be perfect, of course, but Prescott needs to continue to show his ability to add more trust and confidence into the front office and coaching staff.

Running wild

Veteran Alfred Morris has had a solid camp in his first season with the Cowboys, taking advantage of opportunities with Ezekiel Elliott and Darren McFadden dealing with injuries. Morris will get his first extended time in game action this week, and should secure himself as a solid No. 2 option behind Elliott. Morris should benefit by running behind the league’s top offensive line.

Pass rush, please

The Cowboys had one sack in the preseason opener by newly acquired Shaneil Jenkins. That remains a top concern going into the season and the Cowboys need to show the ability to get more pressure. The defensive line is getting healthier by the day with the return of tackle Tyrone Crawford and end Benson Mayowa, and the team must hope those additions boost the rush. As the front office knows, another 31-sack season by the team likely means another long season.

Second chances

Second-year tight end Geoff Swaim and undrafted rookie receiver Andy Jones have had strong camps to date, but struggled in the preseason opener against the Rams with a couple drops. Swaim has become a favorite target of Prescott, but dropping passes in the game is a way to quickly lose the quarterback’s trust. And Jones must respond with a better showing as much of the Cowboys’ staff feels the pressure of an NFL atmosphere might have gotten the best of a player from little-known Jacksonville University. Jones still has a real shot at making the 53-man roster, but can’t afford another setback.

This story was originally published August 18, 2016 at 11:10 AM with the headline "5 things to watch in Cowboys vs. Dolphins preseason game."