9 takeaways, plus a missing Randy Gregory, from Cowboys preseason loss to Cardinals

Here’s what mattered in the Cowboys 2nd exhibition. QB play, young guys who shined, the injury bug, how the corners performed and could the team actually have a competent pass rush in 2021? | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys weren’t expected to have much of a star presence when they made a pit stop in the desert as part of their weekend travels. Training camp in Oxnard, CA wrapped up on Wednesday, but on the way back to Frisco the club stopped by to visit old NFC East rivals, the Arizona Cardinals. Even though they got some work in pre-game, it was well known quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott and WR Amari Cooper weren’t going to play, and neither were several defensive players.

A surprise though was that DE Randy Gregory, who as recently as Wednesday spoke to his desire to play on Friday night, wasn’t in the lineup. Nor was he in the building, returning to Dallas early for an undisclosed reason.

Folks found out after the game that Gregory has a foot issue. He and Dalton Schultz (ankle) were surprise scratches who were sent back ahead of the rest of the team.

Perhaps the Cowboys should’ve sent everyone they consider relevant to the upcoming season home as well. The carnage was real as Dallas suffered multiple injuries on the way to a 19-16 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals. The score and result are wholly unimportant, but here’s what could be taken away that may matter.

WATCH: High school student does impeccable impressions of SEC coaches

This might be the best Gus Malzahn impression I have ever seen.

I’m certain that most of us have our own impressions of Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and his sideline antics, but this might be the best one I have seen yet.

Jaxon Padlo, a student at Jemison High School in Alabama, posted his impressions of the Tigers coach along with Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp, Dan Mullen and Jimbo Fisher to the memorable tune of the SEC on CBS theme.

We give him credit: the Malzahn one is spot on!