The most talked-about player the entire offseason - for either team - is actually now in Green Bay. So with Micah Parsons now shipped to Green Bay, one of the big storylines for this Cowboys-Eagles matchup is no longer a story.
But that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of players to keep an eye on when the ball gets kicked off Thursday night.
Here are a few players our staff writers will be looking at - one for each team.
George Pickens: There is zero chance anyone will overlook Pickens in his first-ever game in a Cowboys' uniform, not to mention the fact he'll be up against their most bitter NFC East rival and on the road, to boot. If training camp with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb is any indication, the human highlight reel could get off to a fast start against an Eagles' secondary that has plenty of question marks, allowing Lamb to do the same as a beneficiary and, thus, their era of terror could begin as early as Week 1. - Patrik Walker
Jalen Carter: Stop Carter and the odds of you walking out of Lincoln Financial Field with a win skyrocket for the Cowboys, and that's the bottom line. Yes, they have other defensive weapons to contend with, e.g., Jordan Davis and Zach Baun, but if rookie first-round pick Tyler Booker and center Cooper Beebe can't stop Carter, the entire offensive rhythm will be disrupted for the Cowboys — both on the ground and in the air. Stopping Carter is easier said than done, but that doesn't mean it isn't doable. - Patrik Walker
Dak Prescott: At long last, Dak Prescott returns to the field after a season ending hamstring injury halted his 2024 campaign. Who welcomes him back to the field? A defense that returns most of the pieces that won them a Super Bowl in the Philadelphia Eagles. IF the Cowboys want to start the year 1-0, Prescott will have to be at his best through all four quarters and take advantage of a potential weakness in the Eagles' defense that is a young secondary. - Tommy Yarrish
Saquon Barkley: Anytime a player rushes for more than 2,000 yards in a season, they're going to be a player to watch. In his first season with the Eagles, Saquon Barkley completely transformed the offense and was a major reason why Philadelphia has another Lombardi trophy in tow. Not much as changed heading into 2025, as Barkley still gets to run behind one of the best offensive lines in football. Jerry and Stephen Jones said they traded Micah Parsons for Kenny Clark and two firsts because they wanted to help their ability to stop the run? Well, if you can stop the run against Barkley and the Eagles, you're trending in the right direction to achieving that goal. - Tommy Yarrish
Dallas Goedert: This is probably the only thing named Dallas the Eagles will accept in Philly. And with good reason, he's a valuable tight end for the Eagles, especially with so many other great weapons around him. It's hard to cover everyone and the guy who usually finds plenty of space to roam is Goedert, who has four career touchdowns against the Cowboys, including one in last year's game in Philly. - Nick Eatman
Dante Fowler: Somewhat flying under the radar for most of the offseason, Fowler now jumps right into the forefront as the most experienced pass rusher on this team now that Micah is gone. Actually, Fowler was the most experienced anyways, having been in the league now for nine years, but he's now one of the players we're all expecting to carry the load with the pass rush. It'll be a committee approach but someone has to take the lead and why not him? - Nick Eatman
