The Dallas Cowboys are playing out the string, but the health of their starters remain on the line in a meaningless battle.

The time has come. The 2025 season is mercifully at its end. While the calendar has officially turned to 2026, the remnants of all of the decisions Dallas has made have a long tail, stretching into the regular season finale, Week 18 at the New York Giants. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has done his best to transform the culture of the Cowboys, but it didn’t translate into a winning season in his first year at the helm.

Instead, Dallas will look to avoid a second-straight losing year, sitting at 7-8-1 heading into the last contest. In that vein, many starters are going to play in a game that is solely for pride and dictating draft order. That includes QB Dak Prescott, but won’t include their top two running backs, as Javonte Williams and Malik Davis were ruled out on Friday.

That opens the door for the activation of rookie Jaydon Blue, who has been blackballed from the game-day roster over his inability to take his craft as seriously as the coach wants. Whether Blue steps foot on the field with Prescott there remains to be seen.

Dallas had an open roster spot, then added three more as they moved several players to IR. After ruling them out Friday, the Cowboys moved Blue, Mafah and TJ Bass to IR, giving them four spots avaialble after releasing Trevon Diggs earlier in the week.

Three of those were filled by adding Blue and CB Josh Butler from IR to the 53-man roster. They also signed UDFA LB Justin Barron. In their final roster move, the club also elevated OL Nick Everett from the practice squad.

Here’s a look at the 53-man roster that Schottenheimer will have at his disposal on Sunday when he names his inactives.

Quarterbacks (2)Running Backs (3)Javonte Williams (out)Hunter LuepkeJaydon BluePhil MafahMalik Davis (out)Tight Ends (3)Jake FergusonLuke SchoonmakerBrevyn Spann-FordWide Receivers (6)CeeDee LambGeorge PickensJalen TolbertKavontae TurpinRyan FlournoyJonathan MingoOffensive Tackles (3)Terence SteeleNate ThomasHakeen AdenijiOffensive Guards (3)Tyler SmithTyler BookerNick Everett (elevated)Centers (2)Cooper BeebeBrock HoffmanDefensive Ends (5)Jadaveon ClowneySam WilliamsDante FowlerJames HoustonDonovan EzeiruakuDefensive Tackles (6)Quinnen WilliamsOsa OdighizuwaKenny ClarkSolomon ThomasJay ToiaPerrion WinfreyLinebackers (6)Logan WilsonDeMarvion OvershownKenneth MurrayMarist LiufauShemar JamesJustin BarronCornerbacks (6)Caelen CarsonShavon RevelTrikweze BridgesReddy StewardCorey BallentineJosh ButlerSafeties (4)Malik HookerDonovan WilsonMarkquese BellAlijah ClarkSpecial Teams (4)Brandon AubreyBryan AngerTrent SiegCJ Goodwin