Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Brian Schottenheimer is not messing around. The Dallas Cowboys are in their second week of training camp, the first camp that Brian Schottenheimer has been overseeing as head coach. It is difficult to draw a hard conclusion about the Schottenheimer era in this sense given that the sample size is so small, but still some things are rather obvious. One of those is that the Cowboys are going to have physical practices. Schottenheimer has preached physicality and noted that he wants it to carry over into actual games. While that is the goal, Schotty has also noted there is a limit to it all. Dallas has had a few scuffles break out and Schottenheimer has been specific in mentioning that this will not be tolerated. He has cited the discipline issues that the Cowboys dealt with in the past as part of his justification for an iron fist in this sense. Wednesday saw that fist rule as things got a bit “physical” and Schottenheimer decided enough was enough. He had the team run to try and nip it in the bud. Practice was getting chippy again, so Brian Schottenheimer stopped practice, pulled them into a huddle and told them to get on the line. They’re now running as a punishment. pic.twitter.com/CfE1ByEhyE — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 30, 2025 You can see that Schottenheimer clearly wants there to be an understanding as far as how far things can be pushed. Given the penalty issues that the Cowboys have dealt with it makes sense to try and hold them more accountable. Such was particularly the case for Cowboys rookie Ajani Cornelius. He was thrown out of practice altogether for throwing a punch, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. Brian Schottenheimer wasn’t kidding. OT Ajani Cornelius threw a punch and was kicked out of practice. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 30, 2025 Again, the consequences seem quite clear. Physicality, toughness and all of the football clichés are wanted and encouraged, but you better not take things too far. If you do there will be restrictions placed on the group or perhaps banishment in the case of Cornelius. CeeDee Lamb spoke on this whole ordeal after the session and echoed what Schottenheimer has been preaching while also citing the discipline issues the Cowboys have dealt with in the past. Wednesday’s practice was cut short after one early ejection and a number of skirmishes that led Brian Schottenheimer to force the players to run a series of sprints. What was the coach’s message to the team? CeeDee Lamb: pic.twitter.com/klxowiJ1xT — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 30, 2025 Lamb has also seemingly taken on a new leadership role, and these words certainly line up with that idea. He isn’t wrong in noting that the Cowboys have had moments and opportunities for success, but that they have gotten in their own way and that has worked to their detriment. The Brian Schottenheimer era appears to be very different.

Photo by Shelly Katz /Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 36) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we are running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 36. John Niland Born: February 29, 1944. Quincy, MassachusettsPosition: Offensive guard Dallas Cowboys: 1966-1974Awards: Super Bowl champion- VIAll-Pro- 1969, 1971, 1972Pro Bowl– 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 Photo by James Flores/Getty Images John Niland played guard for the Dallas Cowboys from 1966 to 1974 after being selected as a first-round draft pick out of Iowa. Known for his explosive strength, athleticism, and pulling ability, Niland was a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ offensive line during their rise to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro, helping the Cowboys win Super Bowl VI and consistently opening running lanes for stars like Calvin Hill and Duane Thomas. Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images Best known for:Niland was best known for being one of the most dominant guards of his era, anchoring the left side of the Cowboys’ offensive line during their first Super Bowl-winning years. Lesser known fact:Niland displayed rare versatility and toughness which caught Tom Landry’s attention, leading Dallas to make him the first offensive lineman they ever selected in the first round of the draft, a pick that paid off for nearly a decade. David Boss-Imagn Images

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Here is what social media had to say about Wednesday’s Dallas Cowboys practice Things are in full flow for the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard now and some heroes are starting to shine. What heroes do we have today? Check out below with some coverage from social media on the highlights and most noteworthy moments from the day. Cowboys are not in full pads today pic.twitter.com/B6vaMX11l9 — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 The good news is Tyler Guyton isn’t out for the season and a plan is in place to hold the left tackle position for now. Nate Thomas will work with the first team at left tackle in Tyler Guyton’s absence. Schottenheimer told Thms to “just go play.” He’s a “Big man. Great feet. Great Length and powerful.” — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 30, 2025 No Hakeem Adeniji today. So the LT competition will be Asim Richards vs. Nate Thomas today. pic.twitter.com/Obe8JLbscw — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 30, 2025 And on injury news, DeMarvion Overshown has been spotted. DeMarvion Overshown has started doing the daily coach tradition of going through the stretching lines and shaking the hands of all his teammates. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/BLJmBpgHoU — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 30, 2025 The whole Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb thing is just too easy. Dak and CeeDee pic.twitter.com/Unx6ffWZ1l — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Touchdown. Dak to CeeDee Lamb with DaRon Bland in coverage. pic.twitter.com/0Q7Jb448wz — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 30, 2025 Dak Prescott ➡️ Ceedee Lamb for SIX #CowboysCamp pic.twitter.com/jKkOEgvaE1 — Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) July 30, 2025 In QB drills, Dak hits the mark with ease. Dak Prescott target practice pic.twitter.com/VS7G7b9MUT — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Jake Ferguson making his extension worth it. Cowboys working red zone. Jake Ferguson with the catch here pic.twitter.com/BW9M7ZdEUb — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 30, 2025 Dak to Jake Ferguson TD pic.twitter.com/X3z3sGNilU — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 George Pickens makes the touchdown grab. Touchdown. Dak to CeeDee Lamb with DaRon Bland in coverage. pic.twitter.com/0Q7Jb448wz — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 30, 2025 George Pickens pic.twitter.com/HN0cvpwdXt — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Joe Milton finds John Stephens in the corner of the endzone. Joe Milton to John Stephens pic.twitter.com/05GIEYZ1cv — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 And then finds Princeton Fant. Joe Milton to Princeton Fant pic.twitter.com/ICYHiJ3z4W — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Running backs all makes plays. Javonte Williams pic.twitter.com/tGbmdiaXQc — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Jaydon Blue pic.twitter.com/l2pCZTQ7Iz — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Jaydon Blue getting some carries with the first team offense too #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/Z5N3YtFMga — Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) July 30, 2025 Kaiir Elam continues to impress and shine in Oxnard. Kaiir Elam interception pic.twitter.com/987lCcc19k — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Brian Schottenheimer has had enough of the fighting. Ajani Cornelius kicked out of practice for fighting pic.twitter.com/EpDKnJ08NV — Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) July 30, 2025 Not sure ive seen this… Schotty stopped practice bc of too many fight and is now making them run sprints…. — ₗₐₙᴰₒₙ (@McCoolBCB) July 30, 2025 Highlight of The Day Now add another receiver into the mix of spectacular catches. Traeshon Holden pic.twitter.com/59U6MbUYxD — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 (And the cherry on top, Holden scored again later). Another Traeshon Holden TD pic.twitter.com/K0I9CYRnfV — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Fan Section I can’t say the last time I’ve actually been this excited for a cowboys season to start and it’s bc of schotty — ‍❄️ (@miguelthegoatc) July 30, 2025 yes bring back Gilly — SgtFoxx (@rw2lite) July 30, 2025

The Dallas Cowboys rewarded one of their homegrown players going into a contract season with an extension on Sunday, helping with offensive continuity while national attention is still focused around their lack of doing so for a similarly homegrown player on defense in Micah Parsons. For now, it is tight end Jake Ferguson who will continue into padded practices in Oxnard with a new contract in hand. The Cowboys signed Ferguson to a four-year extension worth $52 million. It is a deal that runs concurrent to the remaining years under contract for quarterback Dak Prescott, as well as first year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer has talked a lot about wanting to get all of the tight ends at the Cowboys’ disposal more involved, and even in unpadded practices this has showed early in training camp with particularly the most experienced of the bunch Ferguson making plays. This is a player that had a down year a season ago, but did so under the context of battling through injuries, catching passes from Cooper Rush and not Dak Prescott for most of the year, and being one of the only legitimate threats next to CeeDee Lamb that defenses had to worry about. The Cowboys are clearly expecting to solve for these things, without the worry of even more contract drama, by creating continuity now between Prescott, Lamb, and Ferguson. The position the Cowboys found themselves in at wide receiver a season ago was unfortunately not an unfamiliar one. The outlook beyond Lamb called for unproven and inexperienced players being forced to play well above their current roles if the pass offense was going to remain dynamic. Ferguson was, at times, mentioned as a potential saving grace for this entire unit, after making wide receiver-esque run-after-the-catch type plays often in 2023. As it turned out, this expectation was even too much for Ferguson, with the lack of more outside receiving threats being compounded by an even bigger lack of a run game for Dallas, completely neutralizing a lot of his big-play ability down the seams. The Cowboys also feel they have their solution here going into year one of Schottenheimer as play-caller, but the only missing piece now is another contract extension. Wide receiver George Pickens, traded for in the offseason from the Pittsburgh Steelers, is also on the last year of his deal going into what both his old and new team have called a needed scenery change for 2025. Pickens teaming up with Lamb gives the Cowboys a pair of dynamic receivers with complementary skillsets. The Cowboys mission on offense is to create more space for their play makers and do so out of formations that present multiple looks to the defense, while exploiting matchups further with motion and shifts. These things should all be music to the ears of both Lamb and Pickens, and even Ferguson. If this WR tandem gets going like fans and coaches alike believe is possible, it will also be music to the ears of the recently extended Jake Ferguson. The Cowboys should get ahead on extending WR George Pickens now. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images It feels crazy and borderline depressing to say this as a fact, but the Cowboys are living in a reality where their franchise quarterback in Prescott has more years behind him as a starter then he does ahead. For a team that has talked a big game but hardly backed it up when it comes to a sense of urgency to win around Prescott, the time is simply now or never to show it. One area they have fallen short around Prescott is with fluctuations in both talent and continuity at wide receiver. They’ve gone into a season pushing Allen Hurns as a legitimate threat, and they’ve also built trios like Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb. For an array of reasons on both ends of this spectrum, nothing has worked when it comes to Prescott backing up some of the best passing numbers in the league to these targets with a deeper run in the playoffs. The term “Dak friendly” (started all the way back under Jason Garrett) has been thrown around, debated, and more recently twisted into the latest reason to discredit Prescott’s legitimacy as a starter. To outside fans looking in, the “friendliest” the Cowboys offense could possibly ever get around Dak was that trio of Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb, with a strong offensive line and run game also in place during this time. Those same fans may be finally eating their words a bit with Lamb and Pickens now the top dogs at WR for the Cowboys. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Cowboys have embraced giving full organizational support to Brian Schottenheimer and his new staff, particularly on the personnel side of things. For the first time in a very long time, the Cowboys are not just talking about wanting to acquire players that hyper-fit what their coaches are looking for, they’re backing it up in smart ways – and even some new ones. It shouldn’t be forgotten that trading for Pickens was one of just multiple trades the Cowboys made this offseason, in addition to viable free agent signings as well. They got busy in player acquisition to support Schottenheimer’s debut season in multiple ways. In order for these things to be the first seeds of the Cowboys showing real urgency and a desire to keep star players happy and focused on winning long term, extending Pickens is a very logical next step. The Cowboys simply don’t have the time ahead of them on these other big contracts offensively to make 2025, and each subsequent year with Prescott and Schottenheimer specifically, a year they aren’t “going for it”. Being right back in this position at this time next year talking about how the Cowboys can continue tweaking wide receiver and tight end to make things work around Prescott would be a major disappointment. The pressure is on now to make this thing work from the

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Do you think the Cowboys should give any consideration to moving Tyler Smith to left tackle? Tyler Smith is an All-Pro guard. Watching him pummel defenders in the trenches has become a glorious sight over the past two seasons. The Dallas Cowboys drafted the Tulsa tackle 24th overall in 2022 with the intentions of sliding him inside to play guard; however, an injury to Tyron Smith forced him to man the edge during his rookie season. There were some bumps along the way, but the then 21-year-old held up admirably at the most important position on the offensive line. The following year, when Tyron Smith was back, Tyler took over the left guard spot and flourished. It was a match made in heaven. All his deficiencies, such as balance, technique, and lack of discipline, transformed into a powerful downhill mauler who would take defenders on a stroll. Holding penalties were replaced with highlights as this previously raw talent immediately transformed into one of the game’s best interior offensive linemen. You’d have to be a crazy person to ever consider moving him back outside. [crazy has entered the chat] Now that we have shared our feelings on why Smith needs to stay firmly planted at left guard, let’s shake up this Etch-A-Sketch and draw a picture of why moving him to left tackle might be worth visiting. Again, we’re not advocating for this; we’re just entertaining all options in the spirit of being thorough. It looks like last year’s seventh-round pick, Nate Thomas, will be getting the first crack, but here are some things the Cowboys should take into consideration. Stability at left tackle is now a legit concern The Cowboys selected Tyler Guyton to replace Tyron Smith after the 13-year veteran struggled to stay healthy. Smith missed games in each of his last eight seasons with the Cowboys, including a three-year stretch from 2020-2022 where he missed 70% of his games. Unfortunately, Guyton’s career is not off to a great start. He dealt with injuries last season, and counting his final two years in college, this will now make four-straight years that he’s missed time due to injuries. His story is far from written, but his inability to stay healthy is a little concerning. Over the last nine seasons, only one player has started every game at left tackle for the Cowboys. And that player is Tyler Smith. The team has a lot more depth at guard With Guyton out of action, the Cowboys must now put out an ABP for a replacement left tackle. They have some in-house options among the current tackles, our own Brandon Loree laid them out for us, including Nate Thomas. The solution could be found with backup tackles, but those names don’t inspire much confidence. Protecting Dak Prescott’s blind spot is rather important. What the Cowboys lack in tackle depth, they have in spades along the interior. Brock Hoffman was expected to be the team’s new right guard, but that changed when the team drafted Tyler Booker. They also have Rob Jones, who, unfortunately, suffered a setback after breaking a bone in his neck, but he could return in October. T.J. Bass is also on standby. Not only does the team have an abundance of depth along the interior, but moving Smith to left tackle could put Booker back to his natural position at left guard, where he played in all but one game during his time at Alabama. Smith is going to be paid like a top offensive lineman Soon, Smith will become one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the league, bringing in north of $25 million per year. That’s a lot of money. Normally, the big money going out to offensive linemen goes towards the tackle position. If you look at the top 13 highest-paid offensive linemen, only one player (Kansas City’s Trey Smith) is a guard. Good players are good players, and it’s not sacrilegious for the Cowboys to pay top dollar for an elite guard. They’ve done it before with Zack Martin. But it’s also not a bad idea to have your big contracts go to premium positions. How do we know how good he is at left tackle? There’s no world where the Cowboys should be willing to trade an All-Pro guard for a mediocre tackle. The team should want their players in a position to be their best and shouldn’t tinker with it for the sole sake of compensating for a lack of depth. But what if Smith can also be great at left tackle? We can’t base his entire potential on one rookie season where he entered the NFL as a raw prospect. Who’s to say that with more development, he can’t turn into a stud left tackle as well? Remember, back in 2011, Tyron Smith played right tackle during his rookie season, the position he played in college. But after learning that Doug Free wasn’t the answer at left tackle, they switched them, and Smith handled the transition quite well. We all know how that turned out.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The latest news and updates around the Dallas Cowboys Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on Trevon Diggs’ $500K salary reduction: ‘We’re paying a price, too’ – Grant Gordon, NFL.com Stephen Jones doubled down on the criticism of Trevon Diggs working out this offseason outside of the team facility. The two-time Pro Bowler was surprised by the enforcement of the clause, but Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones explained Tuesday that the team believes Diggs would be closer to returning had he rehabbed with the club. “He certainly paid a price for not being here,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota, ”but we’re paying a price, too, because we felt like he might be further along had he done his rehab here. He may differ with that. But had he done his rehab here, we feel strongly that he might be further along. That’s in the best interest of the team and the organization that comes with getting a big contract, which he received.” Diggs is currently on the physically unable to perform list and his status for the beginning of the season is unknown. He rehabbed in Miami, far from where Jones believes he should’ve been traveling on his road to recovery. “I think a player is much better off training with us than he is somewhere else,” Jones said. “I just think the discipline to come in every day, do the work is there when they’re here. … One thing we can do, which we will continue to do is put in every player’s contract, especially guys that we pay significant amounts of money, we expect leadership and we expect them to be here. Certainly we addressed that with Diggs.” As Jones referred to, the Cowboys also addressed paying Diggs, signing him to a five-year, $97 million extension just over two years ago. Carson to miss time with injury, Cowboys sign Christian Matthew – Staff writers, DallasCowboys.com The Dallas Cowboys were already dealing with injuries to the cornerback position. Caelen Carson is the next player to go down for an extended period of time. The second-year cornerback suffered a hyperextended knee in padded practice on Monday, and could miss upwards of the next two months. The timing of the injury, similarly to Guyton’s, does give him a chance at being available for the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, however, barring a setback. That said, Carson will miss valuable time in camp and throughout the entire preseason, and at a position the Cowboys can ill afford to lose bodies. Trevon Diggs and Josh Butler are currently on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, and rookie third-round pick Shavon Revel is working his way from the NFI (non-football injury) list, making the loss of Carson for the remainder of camp a much bigger issue. To try and resolve that issue, the Cowboys worked out and eventually signed Christian Matthew, a former seventh-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals out of Valdosta State (2022) who earned First-team All-GSC honors in 2021. Matthew isn’t completely unfamiliar to some of the Cowboys’ staff, considering he had a short stay with the Chicago Bears during the Matt Eberflus era before going on to suit up for the Ravens. As such, he and Eberflus will be reunited in Oxnard. They had an impromptu and unofficial talk with Stephon Gilmore this offseason, but there is currently nothing brewing and/or imminent with the former Defensive Player of the Year. For Carson, the mission is simple: get healthy and hopefully stay that way. Having suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery that derailed his rookie season, the Cowboys are expecting to see a step forward from him in Year 2 — depth at cornerback being a major concern in Dallas, particularly considering Andrew Booth also exited practice on Monday for an issue that is unknown at this time. Cowboys contract priority rankings: After Micah Parsons, who should be up next to get paid? – Garrett Podell, CBS Sports If and when the front office closes the deal with Micah Parsons, here is a list of who could be next. 5. K Brandon Aubrey Current contract status: Entering final year of current deal in 2025 with a salary of $1.03 million Extension projection: 4 years, $27 million Sentimentally, many Cowboys fans would rank kicker Brandon Aubrey, a two-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler in both of his NFL seasons, higher on this list. He rewrote NFL record books in his first year in the league in 2023 thanks to making his first 35 field goals in a row. That shattered the record for most made field goals in a row to begin a career, and he ended up just three made field goals short of breaking the league’s all-time record for most made field goals in a row (37 by former Indianapolis Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt in 2003). Aubrey ended 2023 as the NFL’s season leader in made field goals, converting on 36 of his 38 attempts, which earned him All-Pro honors. 4. WR George Pickens Current contract status: Entering final year of rookie deal in 2025 with a salary of $3.656 million Extension projection: 3 years, $58 million Jerry Jones re-signing wide receiver George Pickens before the 2025 season begins is probably the most unlikely of these five contracts to get done in this time frame. That’s because Jones acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade in May, meaning he’s never seen him suit up in a real game for Dallas. However, that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be prudent. Pickens comes over from an offense that struggled to find any consistency at quarterback the 24-year-old’s entire NFL career, and now the explosive deep threat gets to line up across from an All-Pro in Lamb and catch passes from the 2023 NFL MVP runner-up. Despite being Pittsburgh’s clear-cut No. 1 option among a sea of misfit toys over the years, Pickens averaged an NFL-best 16.7 yards per reception across the last

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Matt Eberflus seems to be finding a lot of success early on. The Dallas Cowboys completed their second padded practice in Oxnard on Monday, beginning the transition into drills that resemble actual football. This is also the start of where the Cowboys can back up their talk about being a more physical, imposing team in the only area it matters – between the lines instead of in some of the skirmishes and dust ups that were a theme of the very first few practices for Brian Schottenheimer’s team. The search for players that can bring physicality and juice to practices is wide open. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ side, with his unit doing what they do best in a player-friendly scheme and flying around, finishing at the ball, and creating turnovers, is leading the way. Veteran safety Malik Hooker has taken a liking to this style of play in a very noticeable way. After all, it was Eberflus that had a huge say in drafting Hooker after he left Dallas and became the defensive coordinator for the Colts. Hooker had an interception in Thursday’s practice, and this hit in padded work Monday that borders just slightly past where the Cowboys would probably like to see their “live” tackling go at this stage of camp, but don’t tell that to the rest of the defense. Oh yeah. The pads are poppin! Malik Hooker hits Cropper following a slight slip on the boundary. #CowboysCamp pic.twitter.com/QWF0bilO8v — Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) July 28, 2025 Also on Monday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer’s practice report, Hooker had a pass breakup, run stop against Javontae Williams, and coverage on Luke Schoonmaker to force an incompletion. The defensive player of the day might have been safety Malik Hooker. He had a pass breakup, met Javonte Williams on a run, blanketed tight end Luke Schoonmaker for an incompletion and hit Jalen Moreno-Cropper, which drew a loud cheer from his teammates. The Cowboys defense under Eberflus may be having fun on the field so far, but the task of having this unit gameday ready by week one is no laughing matter for the coach now in his second stint with Dallas. Eberflus is the third defensive coordinator in three seasons to get his hands on this cast of players, at this point a completely jumbled up compilation of those that played under Dan Quinn, both Quinn and Mike Zimmer, or are new to just Eberflus’ style. The demands by all three coordinators from the safety position has varied a lot, reaching it’s most drastic point under Quinn, but the Cowboys overall feel towards valuing the position enough to put top resources into it has not changed. This is why many of the safeties still on the roster go back to Quinn’s time with the Cowboys, including Hooker. This has not seemed to bother Eberflus one bit, using all of his depth here to disguise coverages well enough for HC/play-caller Brian Schottenheimer to point out, and even using hybrid player Israel Mukuamu at cornerback in a pinch while Dallas works through who can start the season at corner while nursing injuries to Trevon Diggs, Shavon Revel, and Josh Butler. “We run an outside zone play to our right—the offense’s right,” Schottenheimer described. “And basically, (Luepke) is supposed to block the support player, the strong safety who started down on the snap. The safety went running back because our defense does a really good job of disguising and rotating their shells, changing it up. The fluidity between safeties and linebackers may not be as high for the Cowboys in 2025 as it ever was under Quinn, but it can’t be forgotten that Eberflus’ specialty has always been the linebacker position. Eberflus runs a linebacker-friendly scheme that prioritizes the defensive front getting penetration, which allows linebackers to flow freely and shoot gaps to make plays. Having safeties that are also capable of walking down to the second level and excelling in this role, while also possessing needed cover skills on the backend, is incredibly valuable. It is even more valuable considering the Cowboys also aren’t injury free at linebacker right now, having to wait possibly until late in the regular season to welcome back DeMarvion Overshown. Malik Hooker is this player to a tee, and is already being recognized and rewarded as such. The more trust the Cowboys can have in Hooker to be a true safety but also a swiss army knife, the more it will help slightly more niche players like Donovan Wilson and Juanyeh Thomas at this position fit into their roles. Thomas was another player who flashed with a takeaway in Saturday’s practice. Juanyeh Thomas cuts off the go ball and picks off Joe Milton pic.twitter.com/CFwLc2T0nP — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 26, 2025 The Cowboys safeties are being asked to do a lot right now, and even still are helping a secondary in need of playmakers do just that. The defensive line certainly feels like the more set and ready to roll unit for this group, and they’ve had their say in turning up the pressure on Cowboys quarterbacks to aid the secondary in getting their hands on the ball, but major credit is due for guys like Hooker stepping up to finish plays. While it may raise some slight concerns for Schottenheimer and the state of his offense in the early going of camp, this is a coach that’s been here for winning seasons that were sparked by extremely opportunistic defenses. So far in Oxnard, that is precisely what the Cowboys defense has been. A competitor through and through as the Cowboys new HC, Schottenheimer will learn to relish the chance for the offense to actually get better by sharpening their iron against a defense this athletic and fast every day in practice. Going into his ninth NFL season and fifth with the Cowboys, Malik Hooker has enough left in the tank to continue being an impact player and part of an answer to

Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Here is our look at what is going on across the NFC East these days. What We Learned: Cam Skattebo has ‘got that edge to him’; Evan Neal has ‘really bought in’ – Matt Citak, Giants.com Cam Skattebo is trying to show that New York made the right move drafting him. Anyone that followed college football last year knew how dominant of a player Cam Skattebo was for Arizona State. The young back averaged 5.8 yards per carry while totaling 1,711 yards on the ground along with 21 touchdowns. He also added 45 receptions for another 605 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first running back with 1,500+ rushing yards and 500+ receiving yards in a season since Christian McCaffrey in 2015. It wasn’t just his stats, though. Skattebo showcased his physicality throughout this collegiate career, running defenders over on a consistent basis at both at Sacramento State and ASU. This was one of the numerous attributes that led to the Giants selecting him with the No. 104 pick in this year’s draft. “He was a physical player, first and foremost,” Daboll said about the rookie back’s performance in college. “When you watch the tape, a hard guy to bring down when he has the ball in his hands. There’s all different shapes, sizes of running backs, different speed, different quickness, tall, short. Can they make yards when they get the ball in their hand? However that sorts itself out. Handing it to them, tossing it to them, throwing them a screen, and then how are his hands? Can you use him in the passing game? He’s got good hands, he’s got soft hands. “I talked about it with (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) yesterday – this is another guy that you could evaluate on tape and see these instincts show up. He’s not just a line guy. He has good football instincts. I’m looking forward to seeing him in pads today. He’s a low level, gets his pads down, runs hard. Looking forward to watching him run today.” After sitting out for most of spring practices, Skattebo has been a full-go since the start of training camp. He’s made some impressive plays over the first five practices of camp, including both a big run and a big catch during Monday’s session. It hasn’t taken long for the rookie back to catch the attention of some of his teammates. “He showed he got a little dog…” Burns told reporters. “He runs tough, he runs behind his pads. I got to get back and watch the film. I didn’t really get a head-to-head with him yet, but from what I hear, alright, we’ll see (laughs)… “I like that he got that edge to him and I feel like he’s (going to) be about what he says, so I like that about him.” Adam Schefter says what Commanders fans dreaded about Terry McLaurin talks – Dean Jones, RiggosRag.com McLaurin may be at the facility, but a deal has yet to be reached. Terry McLaurin is back at the facility after his contract holdout. Everyone associated with the Washington Commanders was thrilled to welcome him, but any hope around a new deal being agreed upon evaporated almost as quickly as it arrived. McLaurin is back for the fans. He’s back for his teammates. He’s back to avoid getting fined $50,000 per day. He’s not back to mend fences or get involved too much in negotiations. That’s for his representatives and general manager Adam Peters to figure out. McLaurin has a price in mind. So does Washington’s front office leader, and Adam Schefter from ESPN claimed that the two sides were nowhere near some middle ground right now. Adam Schefter thinks Terry McLaurin wants more than $33 million per year on Commanders extension Schefter stated during his latest appearance on the Pat McAfee Show that the floor is probably the $33 million per year D.K. Metcalf received from the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the senior insider also thought McLaurin could be asking for a lot more. “It’s been vast. So it’s up to the two sides to find a way to bridge their differences. But I would say that D.K. Metcalf was in the same draft class as Terry McLaurin. He got about 33 million dollars a year. I wouldn’t think Terry wants to take less than that, and I think he wants considerably more than that. Now, what it comes in at, we’ll wind up seeing. Washington… They’re not there right now. They love and value Terry McLaurin, but they love and value him at a different price. These two sides right now seem apart on a deal. They don’t seem close today, and I don’t know how they’re going to get that resolved and figured out.” Adam Schefter This doesn’t exactly fill Washington’s fan base with much optimism. But, in all honesty, it’s been the brutal truth since talks over a new deal began. Eagles’ rising star Cooper DeJean earns league-wide respect with latest NFL honor – Kelsey Kramer, AtoZSports.com One year in is enough to turn some heads in the NFL. Philadelphia Eagles’ second-year cornerback Cooper DeJean is quickly gaining league-wide respect as a rising star heading into the 2025 season. On Monday, the NFL announced that DeJean landed at No. 60 on its 2025 Top 100 Players list. NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Eagles CB Cooper DeJean makes his debut at No. 60! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/Zywtv0JM7t — NFL (@NFL) July 28, 2025 “I’m in the top 100?” DeJean said when he was told about the honor. “I don’t even know what to say.”This shouldn’t be much of a surprise for anyone considering DeJean sparked conversation during his rookie year while racking up 51 tackles, including three tackles for loss, half a sack, six passes defended, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. Those numbers were good enough to land him as a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Now heading into year

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Stephen Jones singles out Nate Thomas as possible LT1. The Dallas Cowboys suffered what was believed at first to be a devastating blow when left tackle Tyler Guyton went down with a leg injury. Fortunately, it was just a bone fracture that will require a 4-6 week recovery as opposed to the feared torn ACL that would’ve ended his season. Dallas is in a situation where they aren’t looking outside the building for options, especially with the slim pickings on the free agent market. Instead, an in-house player has been named as Guyton’s probable replacement. Cowboys’ executive vice president Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that 2024 seventh-round pick Nate Thomas will probably be the team’s starter at left tackle going forward. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan said Nate Thomas will probably be the starting left tackle until Tyler Guyton (knee) returns. “He’s having a really good camp for us. He has exceeded expectations. He’s serious-minded about what he’s doing out there. We do feel like we… — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 29, 2025 He’s having a really good camp for us. He has exceeded expectations. He’s serious-minded about what he’s doing out there. We do feel like we have some good players there that can certainly do the job. With his size at 6’4 and 330 lbs., Thomas was first seen as a guy that could battle for the right guard spot in the future once Zack Martin retired. He was placed on injured reserve due to knee tendonitis for his rookie year. So far in training camp, he’s turned heads as head coach Brian Schottenheimer pointed out last week. Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer gave us a name yesterday that might be off the radar, but he said to keep an eye out for: “A guy to watch out for is Nate Thomas. He’s doing great. He’s a guy we didn’t get to see a lot of football out of last year. He’s been great.” After being… pic.twitter.com/2BmSBJbknl — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) July 23, 2025 A guy to watch out for is Nate Thomas. He’s doing great. He’s a guy we didn’t get to see a lot of football out of last year. He’s been great. Guyton’s timeline will have him returning either for the Cowboys’ season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles or Week 2 when the New York Giants, with the latter being the likely route. Until then, Thomas will have a golden opportunity to show his worth on the roster.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 37) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we are running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 37. Mark Tuinei Born: March 31, 1960. Oceanside, CaliforniaPosition: Offensive tackle Dallas Cowboys: 1983-1997Awards: Super Bowl champion- XXVII, XXVIII, XXXPro Bowl– 1994, 1995 Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images Mark Tuinei played offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys from 1983 to 1997, spending his entire 15-year NFL career with the team. Originally a defensive lineman, Tuinei switched to offense early in his career and became a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ dominant offensive line during their 1990s dynasty. A two-time Pro Bowler, Tuinei helped protect Troy Aikman and clear lanes for Emmitt Smith, contributing to three Super Bowl championships. Respected for his toughness, consistency, and leadership, he was a key figure in one of the greatest eras in franchise history. TUINEI’S LEGACY CARRIED ON BY WIFE, EXTENDED FAMILY#Cowboys great Mark Tuinei played 15 yrs for the team, winning 3 SBs and playing in two Pro Bowls. Despite his passing in ’99, his wife Pono & multiple generations of Tuinei’s perpetuate his legacy. pic.twitter.com/1qLWbjx8nW — Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) August 18, 2019 Sadly, in 1999, Tuinei was found unconscious in his car, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital. His death was attributed to an overdose and fellow players and fans were extremely shocked and saddened by the news. He left behind his wife and two children, but his memory lives on thanks to the legacy he created at Dallas. March 31st: Former Cowboys offensive lineman the late #71 Mark Tuinei (1983-97) was born on this day in 1960. He died at the age of 39 in May of ‘99 from an accidental drug overdose. #80sCowboys #90sCowboys pic.twitter.com/nfrZS4oKrH — Dallas Cowboys Old School (@CowboysOld) April 1, 2023 Best known for:Tuinei was best known for being a mainstay on the Cowboys’ legendary offensive line, playing a vital role in the protection and run-blocking that powered the team’s Super Bowl success in the 1990s. First thing I see upon entering Aloha Stadium — a picture honoring Mark Tuinei’s accomplishments with the Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/sFMTkKnwth — Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) August 18, 2019 Lesser known fact:Tuinei originally played defensive tackle at UCLA and the University of Hawaii before switching to offensive line with the Cowboys. His time playing on defense helped Tuinei understand defensive technique and alignment which helped him dominate the position for over 140 games at left tackle for Dallas, and become one of the longest-tenured linemen in team history. Photo by George Rose/Getty Images