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The Dallas Cowboys suffered a major blow to their defensive depth during Friday’s preseason finale. Outside linebacker Marist Liufau exited early after sustaining an injury, which offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer later confirmed as a broken left forearm. The injury occurred in the first half of Dallas’ 27-24 loss against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium. Liufau, selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, was initially evaluated on the sideline for a wrist issue before being ruled out for the remainder of the contest. While the loss itself does not impact the regular-season standings, losing a key linebacker right before Week 1 creates a serious headache for defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Liufau had been enjoying a promising preseason, carving out a role as a dependable rotation linebacker and core special teams contributor. He had posted steady snaps and pressure metrics through training camp, making him a projected piece of the defensive scheme. Now, the Dallas Cowboys must adjust their roster decisions ahead of the official 53-man roster cutdowns. As for the game itself, the Cowboys fell just short despite late-game heroics. Quarterback Sam Howell led a fourth-quarter rally, completing 10 of 11 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns, including a 21-yard strike to Brevyn Spann-Ford. Wide receiver Jordan Hudson shone as a top target, logging three catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. However, the New Orleans Saints edged ahead late with a 53-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson to seal the 27-24 victory. With the preseason officially wrapped up, the Dallas Cowboys now face tough decisions on how to manage their linebacker room and special teams units while awaiting further updates on Marist Liufau's recovery timeline.