Von Miller joins the Cowboys as Dallas keeps developing its backfield competition

The Dallas Cowboys’ preseason work added a new layer on Tuesday, with the team bringing in veteran outside linebacker Von Miller as defensive help takes center stage. The move arrives after Dallas’ recent preseason win at the Seattle Seahawks, a game that, according to the report, featured the Cowboys limiting Seattle to just one opening-drive score.

Miller’s presence changes the rhythm of the Cowboys’ defensive preparations. As an outside linebacker, his role typically blends pass-rush pressure with edge-setting responsibilities, and that profile matters for a Dallas defense that has spent recent seasons trying to translate early-season promise into the consistency needed for late-season games. Even in preseason, adding a proven pass-rusher can alter how offenses plan protection and how often they can escape predictable edge looks.

Dallas has also been using the preseason as an extended look at depth, and the report frames the next priority on offense as an ongoing competition at running back. While the Cowboys have often used training camp evaluation to finalize the top pieces of their backfield, the story’s focus suggests that the RB depth chart remains in flux, and that multiple players are likely still pushing for roles based on how they handle touches, blocking assignments, and pass-game responsibilities.

The team-building narrative is larger than a single preseason weekend. The report connects the Cowboys’ personnel decisions to a long-running postseason question: whether Dallas can finally end its championship drought. Former quarterback Troy Aikman, referenced in the report, weighed in on that broader title picture, underscoring that the Cowboys’ roster construction and on-field execution are being watched through the same lens that has followed the franchise for years.

There are limits to what preseason moves can confirm. A signing like Miller can reflect the team’s immediate intent, but how quickly a veteran fits a specific defensive scheme, communicates protections, and syncs with the group is often revealed across practices and preseason snap counts. Likewise, an RB competition that remains “developing” is usually a sign that the coaching staff is still separating long-term options from those best suited for specific packages.

What to watch next is straightforward. Dallas will likely look for defensive continuity, particularly in early-down pressure and edge discipline, while the running back situation should continue to narrow as preseason reps accumulate. If the Cowboys can carry the same defensive tightness they showed against Seattle into later preseason outings, Miller’s addition could start to look more like a turning point than simply a headline.