Are the Cowboys playing their starters tonight vs. the Falcons? Exploring Dallas' plan for Week 3 preseason clash

The Dallas Cowboys have performed poorly in the preseason thus far, losing their opening two games against the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams. They were totally outclassed in both contests, allowing 62 points in total. The Cowboys will be looking to find some momentum before the regular season starts, so their third and final preseason game, which will take place at home against the Atlanta Falcons, will carry extra weight.

However, it's unlikely the Cowboys will field their starters against the Falcons during Week 3 of the preseason.

Will the Cowboys play their starters against the Falcons?

Dak Prescott has missed all of the preseason games for the Dallas Cowboys, and Friday night's game against the Falcons is not expected to be any different. The wide receiver duo of George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, along with the other important starters of the team, are not expected to play for Dallas on Friday.

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Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer has decided to stick with the strategy of not using his starters during the preseason to prevent injuries. He also wants to test his bench strength before the season starts.

Additionally, the Cowboys don't want to reveal all their cards to the Philadelphia Eagles, their first matchup this season, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. The Cowboys will face the Eagles in Philadelphia on Thursday, Sept. 4, to kick off the 2025 NFL season.

Joe Milton, who has had a rough preseason, will start for the Cowboys tonight. Will Grier, the backup quarterback, will be available as normal.

In his two preseason appearances this year, Milton has recorded 26 completions for 265 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The former sixth-round pick must play well on Friday to establish himself as Prescott's backup quarterback ahead of Grier.

How to watch the Cowboys vs. Falcons preseason Week 3 game on Friday?

The Dallas Cowboys will host the Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium on Friday night in their last preseason game. Both teams are still seeking their first victory in the preseason.

Kickoff for the preseason finale is scheduled for 8 p.m. E.T. and will be broadcasted on NFL Network. FuboTV, which provides a free trial, is a streaming alternative for the game.

Game details:

Date and Time: Friday, Aug. 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET

Location: AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas

TV: NFL Network

Live streaming: NFL+, FuboTV

About the author

Habib Timileyin has been an NFL journalist at Sportskeeda for 2 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English, and found himself drawn to the NFL about a decade ago.

Habib's favorite team is the Cincinnati Bengals and he particularly enjoyed their run to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season. The 2016 Super Bowl between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots is his most favorite of all time, and if given a chance to go back in time, he would love to witness the Patroits’ incredible comeback from being 28-3 down to winning 34-28.

Habib admires Tom Brady for his journey from being in a low draft position to achieving immense success in the game. His favorite coach of all time is Bill Belichick.

Habib likes to study intricate details of a story before reporting on it, and compares information among several reputable sources to ensure accuracy. When he's not writing about the NFL, Habib is likely watching Soccer, Basketball or enjoying a good movie on sports.

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Edited by Satagni Sikder