The Dallas Cowboys will be without some of their top players on Saturday night for a preseason tilt against the St. Louis Rams. Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, Miles Austin and Demarcus Ware are all likely to sit out the Cowboys' third preseason game, says Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Inactives for the Rams will likely be familiar names from the week's injury report, including wide receiver Danario Alexander.

Rapoport also passed along another interesting nugget about the Rams plans for Saturday's game. Starters will play into the second quarter, which we knew, but the starting running backs could look a little different. Steven Jackson will get a little work, but Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson will also get their chances with the first team and a chance to play behind the starting offensive line.

That's a telling bit of evidence that suggests the backup running back spot has turned into something of a competition between the two rookies. Both are likely to stick on the final roster, and this could go a long way toward determining which one sees more playing time.