The Cowboys held their first joint practice of the preseason on Tuesday against the Rams, and by all accounts it didn’t go well for the good guys. Beat reporters in attendance described the Rams as being the more physical team and largely walking all over the Cowboys on both offense and defense. On Wednesday, though, […] The Cowboys held their first joint practice of the preseason on Tuesday against the Rams, and by all accounts it didn’t go well for the good guys. Beat reporters in attendance described the Rams as being the more physical team and largely walking all over the Cowboys on both offense and defense. On Wednesday, though, head coach Brian Schottenheimer took a moment to ease any concerns about his team getting punked in their first bit of action against another team. In short, Schottenheimer is opting to keep things bland on both offense and defense for the bulk of the preseason, which makes it harder (at least according to Schottenheimer) to excel against other teams that aren’t holding as much back. If that is, in fact, the explanation behind Monday’s one-sided practice, it should offer a genuine sigh of relief to fans everywhere. The Cowboys are banking on schematic changes giving them enough of a boost to rebound from last year’s disappointing campaign. Offensively, Schottenheimer is the new play-caller, something he hasn’t done on a full-time basis since the 2020 season. League trends have changed dramatically since then. So have players: over 76% of the Cowboys’ current offensive roster wasn’t even in the league in 2020. Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams also adds a new dimension to things on offense. While Schottenheimer is calling plays, Adams is expected to contribute significantly to the overall construction of the scheme, especially in the run game. His exposure to the Cardinals’ versatile offense the last two years offers hints at what those changes may look like, but how it all combines with what Schottenheimer brings to the table is anyone’s guess at this point. Defensively, Matt Eberflus is more of a known commodity. His Tampa 2 scheme that he learned from his time under Rod Marinelli here in Dallas hasn’t evolved that much between his stints in Indianapolis and Chicago, the latter of which saw him call plays on defense the final two seasons. Even though we have a fairly solid understanding of the philosophical foundations of Eberflus’ defensive scheme, we haven’t seen these players in it. How does he utilize players like Osa Odighizuwa, Marist Liufau, and especially DaRon Bland, who has been splitting time between playing outside and in the slot so far in camp. We really haven’t seen Micah Parsons’ usage in this new scheme, either, as the star pass rusher continues to sit out of practices amid a contract standoff with the front office. At this point, it’s a genuine question if we’ll ever see Parsons in an Eberflus defense, but his absence fundamentally changes the way that side of the ball will look whether or not coaches are limiting themselves to just one proverbial golf club. Either way, the Cowboys have the element of surprise right now. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are known quantities at this point, as are many of the biggest players on this roster, but how they’ll be specifically used in these new schemes is still a guessing game from the outside looking in. For Schottenheimer and the rest of the coaching staff, that’s a huge advantage, especially when they kick their season off on the road against the reigning Super Bowl champions. There’s no reason to give state secrets away until then, and Schottenheimer is smart to keep his clubs in the bag until it’s tee time. See More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

Josh Allen’s advice to rookie QB Jaxson Dart – Dan Salomone, Giants.com One New York QB shares his advice and wisdom with another. The defending MVP won’t be playing, but Saturday will be surreal for Jaxson Dart in the home of Josh Allen. Brian Daboll, who has worked on the ground floor of both first-round […] Josh Allen’s advice to rookie QB Jaxson Dart – Dan Salomone, Giants.com One New York QB shares his advice and wisdom with another. The defending MVP won’t be playing, but Saturday will be surreal for Jaxson Dart in the home of Josh Allen. Brian Daboll, who has worked on the ground floor of both first-round quarterbacks, did not announce if the Giants’ starters will play in the preseason opener in Buffalo. Daboll, however, confirmed one thing. “He’s playing,” Daboll said of Dart. “There you go. Tweet that out.” Everyone did. Thus, the 25th overall draft pick is set to begin his NFL journey. Whether that happens in the first or second half remains to be seen. “This is just the start of a dream of mine,” Dart said. “So, I’m excited to take that next step, be out there, compete at the highest level. My family’s going to be there, so I’m super excited to have them a part of this journey with me and I think that’s really it. I’m just stoked for the opportunity.” Days after the draft, which saw the Giants trade up to select Dart and pair him with Abdul Carter in the first round, the incoming rookie connected with the Bills quarterback. Two months earlier, Allen won his first league MVP award. It was the individual high point of a career that started with Daboll as his offensive coordinator in 2018. “He’s been somebody who I’ve really looked up to and since coming here, just watching a ton of his tape and how he was able to operate Coach Dabs’ system,” Dart said. “It’s going to be kind of a surreal feeling to be on the same field as him.” And that system has been known to be difficult to learn, even for veterans. Knowing the offense is only a portion of a quarterback’s job description. Allen, who is 76-34 as a starter and has led the Bills to six postseason appearances, emphasized everything else. “He talked a lot about leadership,” Dart said. “That was kind of like his main thing and then trying to be the best teammate for the guys around you because as a quarterback, you have to raise the standards of everybody. Obviously, schematics, I think that what shows up on Coach Dabs’ record is being able to coach many different quarterbacks who have different skill sets and kind of molding offenses around what they’re good at, so kind of just hone in on the key details of Coach Dabs’ offense and really trust it. I think, at times, maybe quarterbacks will predetermine things and not really trust the system, but the special thing about Coach Dabs is he gives us a ton of freedom, so there’s answers to everything that you can really think of.” Philly has played their first preseason game; here are some takeaways. Quarterback Tanner McKee looked good directing the Eagles 75 yards over nine plays for a touchdown on the Eagles’ opening drive. McKee was a perfect 2-for-2 for 27 yards and scored on a Brotherly Shove. He continues to show he has a command of the offense and is a very viable back-up to Jalen Hurts. McKee closed the first half completing 14 of 17 for 193 yards, with one bad throw. He threw for two touchdowns and scored on a Brotherly Shove play. He directed two scores in the last 2:46 of the half. Over six drives, McKee directed the Eagles to three touchdowns and two field goals, with one punt. He ended the night completing 20 of 25 for 252 yards and two touchdown passes. Right guard Tyler Steen’s block on Bengals’ first-team linebacker Logan Wilson, steering him inside, creating a gaping hole on Will Shipley’s 38-yard run on the Eagles’ opening possession. The Eagles were flagged 10 times for 80 yards. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson missing an open Johnny Wilson midway through the third quarter. Wilson was open and DTR overthrew him. Cornerback Eli Ricks dropping a sure interception in the last minute of the first half. Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson thundering through Eagles’ rookie linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. and rookie nickelback Mac McWilliams. Not a good preseason start for a pair of fifth-round picks. Tight end Grant Calcaterra’s drop on a third-and-5at the Bengals’ 26 on the Eagles’ second drive. McKee rolled right and found Calcaterra on the sideline, and the ball went right through his hands. Cornerback Kelee Ringo’s terrible angle on Ja’Marr Chase on the Bengals’ second drive. Chase turned the Ringo mistake into a 36-yard touchdown reception and a 14-7 Bengals’ lead. On the play, Ringo did not use the sideline, allowing Chase to cut up field when he stepped inside the receiver. It turned into a very easy touchdown. The Eagles were in a blitz. Ringo did not crowd Chase, giving him way too much respect. Could the Commanders use a rare rule with Terry McLaurin in 2025? – Serena Burks, USA Today Washington may have a trick up their sleeve with McLaurin’s contract negotiations. Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin wants a contract extension. It’s not a secret; it’s been all over the news. He returned to the team during training camp, but did not pass the preseason physical and was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons and Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson also returned to their teams, but neither of them is practicing, holding out for their own extensions. While talks between all three teams and players continue, each team has an option in its back pocket that it can use if an agreement is not reached. Former NFL

For several years now, the Cowboys have had a chronic issue with stopping the run. Their 2025 offseason did little to address this from a personnel standpoint, and Tuesday’s joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams was a reminder of how ugly it can get. As Dallas prepares for a fresh, new season, they’re still […] For several years now, the Cowboys have had a chronic issue with stopping the run. Their 2025 offseason did little to address this from a personnel standpoint, and Tuesday’s joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams was a reminder of how ugly it can get. As Dallas prepares for a fresh, new season, they’re still dealing with this tired, old problem. Last year was abysmal. The Cowboys gave up the fourth-most rushing yards and the fifth-highest yards-per-carry in the league. Injuries weren’t the issue; most of Dallas’ key defensive personnel, particularly in terms of run defense, played the majority of the season. Our previous defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, blamed some of this on not installing more of his system earlier in the year. But considering how much worse his defense was against the run than Dan Quinn’s, that argument wasn’t overly convincing. But even during the Quinn years, Dallas’ run defense would only finish average at best in these areas. There was a little “pick your poison” in it based on the scheme Quinn ran and the types of players he liked. Focusing on quickness and coverage is naturally going to make you a little weaker against the run. Playing safeties as linebackers and linebackers as defensive ends makes you smaller and easier to push around. You just have to hope that you get enough wins against the pass, with turnovers, and in other situations, which Quinn’s crew did a good job of. Whatever new DC Matt Eberflus is strategizing to stop the run, he’s going to have to do it with a fairly similar cast of players. Dallas made a long-term commitment to DT Osa Odighizuwa and is giving Mazi Smith a chance to make or break his career in Year 3. They added veteran depth in Solomon Thomas, but he’s built similarly to Odighizuwa. Rookie Jay Toia is a true nose tackle but only a seventh-round pick, so relying on him to do much would be a huge gamble. At defensive end, you still have a lot of guys who are much more edge rushers than run stoppers. DeMarcus Lawrence is gone, leaving Marshawn Kneeland as the only bigger DE who’s a lock to make the roster. Micah Parsons, Dante Fowler, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and others are here to attack the quarterback, which makes sense in what’s become a predominantly passing league. However, they can be quickly neutered if an opponent is getting consistent gains on the ground. The linebackers are still a “TBD” group, especially given Eberflus’ reputation for coaching up this position. But we know they’ll be without DeMarvion Overshown for at least half the year. The crew gets a bit motley from there; Marist Liufau is only in his second year, Damone Clark is trying to resurrect his career after a rough 2024, and veteran free agents Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray Jr. remain unproven in their new digs. An underrated loss to the run defense was veteran CB Jourdan Lewis, who was about as tough and willing in run defense as you could ask for in a slot corner. Even if the next guy is as good or better in coverage, which DaRon Bland would be, he’ll have a hard time matching Lewis’ tenacity in run support. You may see Dallas compensate by using safety Juanyeh Thomas in that role, but that would create a different vulnerability against the pass. While it’s still quite early in training camp and there’s plenty of time for Eberflus and the players to figure things out, Tuesday’s joint practice with the Rams was a kick in the pants. The consensus had the Cowboys getting pushed around by Los Angeles. And while stopping RB Kyren Williams has proven tough for many NFL defenses, it’s especially concerning given Dallas’ well-known weakness in this area. But as it was in the Quinn years, or even last season under Zimmer, it wasn’t all bad. Again, we’re still four weeks away from the season opener. But with the Cowboys heading to Philadelphia on that Thursday night, stopping the run is all the more imperative. No matter how good Dallas’ offense is, getting dominated on the other side of the ball could render it moot. Hopefully, in this final month of preparation, they’re able to address this chronic issue. See More:

Dak Prescott confident that Cowboys, Micah Parsons can get deal done – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Dak Prescott is keeping the faith that a deal will happen. “It was just frustration that this is going on. I can say from experience that it’s just frustrating,” Prescott said. “I hate that he’s going through it, but as […] Dak Prescott confident that Cowboys, Micah Parsons can get deal done – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Dak Prescott is keeping the faith that a deal will happen. “It was just frustration that this is going on. I can say from experience that it’s just frustrating,” Prescott said. “I hate that he’s going through it, but as I’ve told him, keep handling things the way that you are, and I believe that he should be paid.” That frustration boiled into Parsons’ request to be traded, a somewhat unprecedented move for a Cowboys player of his caliber. It’s a difficult situation to fathom, but could Prescott imagine a world where he doesn’t have Parsons as a teammate? “No, not necessarily,” Prescott said. “I think if I wouldn’t have been in his shoes, and watched other guys be in his shoes and get rewarded, maybe. But I’ve got faith in the Joneses and the team as I do in Micah and his team.” “11 is a Cowboy.” Prescott isn’t alone in that feeling, as Cowboys COO/co-owner Stephen Jones told DallasCowboys.com’s Nick Eatman in an interview on Wednesday that the team would not move Parsons. “We have no intentions of trading Micah, and that’s part of the negotiations,” Jones said. “That’s just the nature of negotiations. I think any player that’s holding out for a contract – I think I’ve read around the league where they’ve all requested to be traded. So that’s part of it. We have no intention of trading Micah. He’s right here in camp.” Sources: Cowboys’ Parsons has back issue, misses practice – Todd Archer, ESPN The official excuse for Micah Parsons not being at practice today. For the first time in training camp, Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons was not on the practice field Thursday, with multiple sources telling ESPN he was dealing with back tightness and received treatment during the workout. After the first practice of camp July 22, Parsons said he was dealing with the same back issue that prevented him from doing more at the mandatory June minicamp. Speaking on Saturday, a day after Parsons requested a trade in a social media post, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the back issues were as much a part of the negotiation process as the request. Parsons remains in Oxnard, California. If he were to leave camp, he would face daily fines of $50,000, although the organization could rescind those if a new deal were reached. Jones said he would not trade Parsons, who is under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this year and set to make $21.324 million. Sources told ESPN that the Cowboys haven’t received a call regarding a trade for Parsons, nor have contract discussions between the two sides started. On Tuesday, Jones said he was not confident Parsons would be available for the Sept. 4 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones has continued to say that he and Parsons reached an agreement on an extension in March on the length, guaranteed money and total money. Jaydon Blue’s ankle injury has his availability for Saturday in question – Charean Williams, PFT Unfortunate timing for the Cowboys rookie RB. Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue was injured during Thursday’s practice. Blue spun to the ground awkwardly after defensive end Sam Williams grabbed Blue’s facemask. He remained on the ground before taking a cart to the injury tent and later was escorted to the training room. Blue returned to the practice field in street clothes. He told Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he injured his ankle. Although Blue insisted he is fine, his availability for the preseason opener on Saturday against the Rams now is in question. What we learned from Cowboys camp on Thursday: UDFA Zion Childress earns starting reps – Joseph Hoyt, DMN UDFA is moving up the depth chart. Cowboys cornerback Zion Childress started his NFL career with belief in himself. He also understood the reality of being an undrafted rookie. Expectations? He expected the Cowboys would have little for him, just like most undrafted players. That changed during a rookie minicamp meeting with head coach Brian Schottenheimer. “He told me I would have a good opportunity to be in the mix,” Childress recalled. “He told the wrong guy that, because I take advantage of every opportunity.” So far, Childress has been right. Childress has slowly risen up the depth chart this offseason despite starting low. On Thursday, for the first time, Childress earned reps with the starting defense as a nickelback. He had multiple run stops and also had a pass breakup of Dak Prescott on a swing pass intended for Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Childress is the latest entrant into the starting nickelback competition. The Cowboys have used multiple players there, including DaRon Bland — who will start either outside or in the slot for them — and former undrafted free agent Kemon Hall, who spent time with the team last year. The Cowboys have some questions in their secondary. The most pressing of which is finding an answer to their starting nickel. See More: Dallas Cowboys News

The Dallas Cowboys may have suffered another injury on Thursday. This time it’s rookie running back Jaydon Blue. Over the last couple of weeks Blue has been getting more opportunities to show the Cowboys what he is capable of. It is hard to make an impact as a rookie, but the position of running back […] The Dallas Cowboys may have suffered another injury on Thursday. This time it’s rookie running back Jaydon Blue. Over the last couple of weeks Blue has been getting more opportunities to show the Cowboys what he is capable of. It is hard to make an impact as a rookie, but the position of running back is one where you can really shine. Blue’s home run ability is something everyone has been looking forward to seeing, particularly in the preseason. We may or may not get that chance, though. At the time of this writing the full severity of Blue’s injury, if there even is a full injury, is unknown. He did leave the field before practice concluded, though. In the moments that the Blue news was reaching the internet it was also reported that offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley suffered a would-be injury. Joe Hoyt did note that Shepley got up and moved under his own power, though. Thursday marked another padded practice for the Cowboys and sometimes those things can be tough. We will update this post with more information on Blue and/or Shepley when it becomes available. Update: 3:55pm ET Jake Ferguson also appeared to suffer a bit of a scare. Thankfully he was able to stay out on the field, although he was definitely uncomfortable. We will see how the rest of the day goes. Update: 4:05pm ET Ferguson ultimately went to the locker room. Make it stop. Update: 4:10pm ET As far as Blue is concerned… he did return to the practice field. As you can see he did so without his football equipment. See More: Dallas Cowboys Injuries

The Cowboys have released OT Matt Waletzko from injured reserve, reaching a settlement with the fourth-year prospect to end his time in Dallas. This is hardly breaking news for a player who only appeared for 20 offensive snaps in three years, but it does bring closure to the much bigger story of the Amari Cooper […] The Cowboys have released OT Matt Waletzko from injured reserve, reaching a settlement with the fourth-year prospect to end his time in Dallas. This is hardly breaking news for a player who only appeared for 20 offensive snaps in three years, but it does bring closure to the much bigger story of the Amari Cooper trade in 2022. Waletzko was the last remaining asset from that deal, and his inconsequential Cowboys career is the sesame seed bun on the nothing burger that Dallas got for their one-time star receiver. In March of 2022, the Cowboys sent Cooper to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-round picks, which moved Dallas up 10 spots. They drafted Waletzko with the fifth and LB Devin Harper with the sixth. Harper was a non-factor, only playing special teams for a few games as a rookie before getting injured. He made the team in 2023 due to injuries but only lasted a few weeks before being waived. Waletzko made it to his fourth and final training camp despite several injuries and a lack of progress thus far. But like most teams, Dallas is always looking for depth at offensive tackle. Unfortunately an ankle injury took Waletzko out of the competition early, and he was waived injured on August 2nd. After nobody claimed him, Waletzko reverted to IR and has now reached a settlement to be fully released from his rookie contract. Obviously, in terms of the draft compensation, Dallas didn’t get much of anything for Amari Cooper. More spins at the wheel are nice, and you never know what those Day 3 picks might become. Just twelve spots after Waletzko was taken, the Cowboys drafted CB DaRon Bland. Between those two Dallas picks, the Rams took RB Kyren Williams. The odds aren’t high for that late in the draft, but that’s why we call them “gems.” Practically speaking, the real return on the Cooper trade was $16 million in salary cap space. This room was used to fund moves like re-signing WR Michael Gallup and adding safeties Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker. It was believed that much of that money was expected to go to DE Randy Gregory, but his negotiation with Dallas bottomed out at the last minute. But in the Cowboys front office’s mind, the trade was just a way to get some additional capital back for Cooper instead of just releasing him for the cap room. But still, that perspective offers little comfort. Dallas essentially dumped Cooper for Gallup, and the result was ugly. Gallup never got back to pre-injury form and was gone two years later. The Cowboys have missed having another true WR2 in the offense for two years, hence why they made the big trade for George Pickens last spring. While Dallas had a very productive passing offense in 2023, putting Dak Prescott into MVP consideration, they still struggled in situational football against top NFL opponents. The lack of talent betrayed them when it counted most. Perhaps what’s more frustrating about this now than even in 2022 is the rumor that Cooper’s departure was driven by Mike McCarthy. The head coach and veteran receiver reportedly did not get along, and it’s become more public in recent years that McCarthy may have been the key reason that Dallas was willing to part with Cooper for such a limited return. Given how McCarthy’s last two years went, you have to wonder how much he was worth listening to. In the end, from any angle, it’s hard to say that the Cowboys got anything back for letting Amari Cooper go. The draft picks went about how Day 3 picks usually go, and choosing Michael Gallup over Cooper was a big risk that blew up in their faces. The unceremonious end to Matt Waletzko’s time in Dallas is just a reminder, and hopefully the last one, of how poorly Cooper’s exit went. See More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

As the dust settles on the joint practice with the L.A. Rams, the Dallas Cowboys get back into practice before the first preseason game this weekend. Here are the most notable plays and notes posted on social media, and also some thoughts and comments left by fans. Tyler Smith gets to the field, and he […] As the dust settles on the joint practice with the L.A. Rams, the Dallas Cowboys get back into practice before the first preseason game this weekend. Here are the most notable plays and notes posted on social media, and also some thoughts and comments left by fans. Tyler Smith gets to the field, and he looks ready to take on the day. Also returning back is Juanyeh Thomas In the ongoing saga between Micah Parsons and the Cowboys front office, we now see no presence of Micah DaRon Bland making plays and forcing the fumble Jaydon Blue with a run inside And that was followed by Javonte Williams getting in the second level quickly We’re seeing some cheeky plays coming out today from Brian Schottenheimer’s playbook Luke Schoonmaker gets the big catch and run CeeDee Lamb made plays all practice And Dak Prescott gets out running, again Keep an eye on this Highlight of The Day Joe Milton with another big bomb downfield Fan Section See More: