Dallas Cowboys cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. started by baiting Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester with a press-bail technique in the first quarter this past Saturday. Booth realized he had eyes on quarterback Cooper Rush while Wester didn’t. Trying not to get a pass interference call, Booth reached up to tip the ball Rush threw his way. Even better, he intercepted it and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown.
The Ravens beat the Cowboys 31-13 in the preseason game, but Booth proved that his battle for a roster spot wasn’t over yet.
Booth had a team-high eight tackles and two passes defended. He was the Cowboys’ highest-rated defender in the loss, according to Pro Football Focus.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer called Booth’s interception “incredible.”
Cowboys
“That’s a very, very talented second-round pick getting the chance to come here,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do.”
The 2022 second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings played significant snaps in both of the Cowboys’ preseason games and is working on getting comfortable, something that was almost impossible in his first preseason game last season.
Related:Cowboys 53-man roster projection 3.0: Joe Milton’s erratic preseason costs them elsewhere
On Aug. 9, 2024, when Booth was traded from the Minnesota Vikings to the Cowboys for cornerback Nahshon Wright, he wasn’t expecting to play in that night’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
He went over parts of the game plan when he touched down in Texas just in case, and played two defensive snaps and four special teams plays in the 13-12 loss.
This year, he’s had more time to prepare.
“It definitely feels a lot better,” Booth said after practice on Tuesday. “When you get to have more experience with the guys you know how this guy plays, you know what kind of calls this guy is going to give you and you get just a better feel for it.”
Booth is ready to make the final exhibition against the Atlanta Falcons count, with cut-down day less than a week away.
“I’m itching to make more plays,” Booth said. “Kind of like, ‘Do it twice, so, you know I meant it.’”
Booth’s chances of making the 53-man roster are good either way. Cornerbacks Trevon Diggs, Shavon Revel Jr., Caelen Carson and Josh Butler are all recovering from knee injuries. That leaves DaRon Bland and Kaiir Elam with two starting spots, with an open position behind them.
The injuries free up some room for Booth now, but the key will be whether he can stay as those return to health … and to the field.
Booth appeared in seven games for the Cowboys last season, posting 10 tackles and one pass defended.
Now, he’s focused on the game ahead, being himself and getting a victory for the Cowboys in the preseason finale.
Instead of looking around at who he’s competing against for the roster spot, Booth said it’s just himself versus himself.
“Play my brand of football, trust my instincts,” Booth said of his plan for Friday.
The brand of football he’s looking to showcase to the fans? Partially, swag.
“He’s quick,” Booth said of what he wants people to think of him. “He’s instinctual, ball-hawking. He’s physical. He’s gonna come tackle. Just his swagger, just out there bringing the swag.”
Brian Schottenheimer expresses optimism in Micah Parsons’ availability for Cowboys-Eagles
While Parsons’ contract hold-in continues, Schottenheimer is confident the pass rusher will take the field with the Cowboys once the regular season starts.
Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker in concussion protocol, likely to miss preseason finale
Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Schoonmaker suffered the concussion during Tuesday’s practice at the Star.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.