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          2026 Dallas Cowboys training camp: Latest intel, updates

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          Christian Parker and the Cowboys' defense are looking good in camp (0:40)

          • Todd ArcherAug 9, 2026, 05:56 PM ET
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              Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.
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          The 2026 NFL training camps have kicked off around the league, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Dallas Cowboys' camp is taking place in Oxnard, California, and Cowboys reporter Todd Archer has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and, of course, the quarterbacks room.

          What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at the Cowboys' camp. We will update this file often. Will Dallas turn around the NFL's worst defense from 2025? Who are the breakout players to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?

          Dive in to all the updates and be sure to check back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins Aug. 13.

          Camp updates for all 32 NFL teams

          Latest news from Cowboys camp

          Sunday, Aug. 9

          The Cowboys' practice had a little that would make coaches on defense and offense happy.

          To start, the defense controlled the line of scrimmage against the run and was able to keep the passing game in check. In the final two periods of team drills, the offense was able to respond.

          In between, there was plenty of talk back and forth in what was the most physical practice of training camp.

          "It's fire, man," receiver CeeDee Lamb said. "I embrace it. It was good to see our defense come out with that type of energy, that type of fire, that type of aggression early on. For us as an offense, it leaves us no choice but to bow down or fight back and get on top. And I know one thing about us, we won't bow down to nobody."

          Other observations:

          • Dak Prescott and Lamb connected on two deep passes, including one that would have been a touchdown of more than 50 yards after he was able to get a step on cornerback DaRon Bland. His first deep reception came when he got a step on Cobie Durant.

          • After a Jaydon Blue touchdown run to the edge, safety P.J. Locke was able to read Prescott's eyes perfectly and come up with the interception in the end zone on what looked like a 2-point play. Later, Shemar James intercepted Prescott, who was under pressure.

          • Safety Jalen Thompson (hip) returned to 11-on-11 drills for the first time in a few days. The hope is he will be good to go from now on and practice against the Rams on Tuesday.

          • On the first two plays of team, edge rushers Donovan Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary blew up consecutive runs. Ezeiruaku got off the ball quick to get to Javonte Williams. Gary's physical play with Tyler Smith stymied a Blue run.

          • The Cowboys do not practice Monday. They next time they hit the field in pads will be Tuesday at the Rams' facility in Woodland Hills.

          Saturday, Aug. 8

          Practice was not very old when coach Brian Schottenheimer wanted to get a point across to the players.

          While in the middle of individual drills, he called the group together from both practice fields and appeared to light into the players, expletives and all. After the Cowboys were in pads for three straight practices, perhaps Schottenheimer wanted to remind the players that padless practice doesn't mean less effort.

          Whatever it was, the message was received.

          "[He was] just reminding us that we have to have a productive day," pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku said. "It was nothing that really happened. It just felt as though he needed to do that as the head coach, and that's what he did. I think we had a pretty good day."

          Said wide receiver George Pickens, "Just pushing guys to be better."

          Other observations:

          • QB Dak Prescott had a sharp day, completing 15 of 19 passes, including 5 of 6 in a red zone period that saw him throw touchdown passes to Jake Ferguson and Pickens. Ferguson and Pickens were able to use their size to their advantage to beat S P.J. Locke and CB Shavon Revel Jr.

          • Jerry Jones made the long flight back from the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Friday night to be in attendance for Saturday's practice.

          • Schottenheimer spent most of the practice observing on the sideline as offensive coordinator Klayton Adams called the plays from behind the line of scrimmage. It's the second time Adams has called the plays. Schottenheimer's comfort level with the offensive staff has grown.

          • CeeDee Lamb had two touchdown catches, including one on a route where he was able to out-leverage CB DaRon Bland to the outside by quickly getting out of his break. On the second, he and Prescott connected on a perfect back-shoulder throw on Revel.

          Friday, Aug. 7

          After he was tossed from Tuesday's practice for throwing a punch, second-year edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku had a conversation with coach Brian Schottenheimer.

          Schottenheimer said it was a "long talk."

          "I just talked to him about [how] we're playing this the way you would play a game. And I said, 'For an incredible player, you run hot'; that's part of his edge," Schottenheimer said. "He's an incredible play-style guy. He plays the game the right way, but at the same time, we have to have a plan that when he gets hot and when he feels his temperature rising, what is the plan?

          "So he and I discussed a couple different options. I think we've got a good thing in place, but again, I don't want to take away the edge that he plays on. But you throw a punch, you've gone over the edge, therefore you're going to get ejected.

          Schottenheimer said Ezeiruaku's reaction was "great."

          In Thursday's practice, Ezeiruaku was as active as he has been, providing pressure off the edge. And he didn't throw a punch.

          Thursday, Aug. 6

          With the Cowboys holding their Military Appreciation Day at training camp Thursday, Dak Prescott was presented with a gift from a fan.

          It was a Cowboys hat with a picture of his brother Jace on the side. At first, Prescott said he just thought it was a normal hat until he saw Jace, who died in 2020. Prescott's Faith Fight Finish Foundation, which honors his brother as well as his mother, addresses mental health and suicide prevention.

          "That actually means a lot," Prescott said. "I wish I knew who did it because I would've said thank you. I just thought it was a hat. I didn't see it until I go with my daughters [after practice].

          "It's badass."

          More observations:

          • Coach Brian Schottenheimer wanted to clarify the state of the left tackle competition. Tyler Guyton hasn't been named the starter yet, but Nate Thomas needs to up his level to make sure there is a competition. Guyton took part in Thursday's work with his right elbow taped after he didn't finish Tuesday's practice. Guyton and Thomas had false-start penalties leading to their departures for a play.

          • Tight end Jake Ferguson is off to a strong start in camp. He and Prescott have had a clear connection on the intermediate and seam throws, and they connected four times Thursday with one completion coming on a "free" play when the defense jumped early that led to a decent gain.

          • Rookie LB Jaishawn Barham did not finish practice because of a groin injury. A source said it wasn't believed to be serious, and Barham was able to return to the field to watch the final parts of the workout.

          • It did not rise to the level of the Donovan Ezeiruaku punch, but cornerback Caelen Carson and rookie receiver Anthony Smith got into a tug-of-war and needed to be separated by teammates. It was brewing with both players after a particularly physical play early in team drills.

          • LB Curtis Robinson had a near interception of a Sam Howell pass down the seam to tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford, reaching high with his right hand to knock it down. The ball nearly fell into Robinson's lap as he landed on the ground.

          Wednesday, Aug. 5

          A year ago at this time, the Cowboys were learning about how Javonte Williams fit into their run game. They found out what he did well, as he rushed for 1,201 yards in 2025. Then they rewarded him with a three-year, $24 million contract in the offseason.

          As Williams enters his second season with the Cowboys, offensive coordinator Klayton Adams is looking to expand the list of what Williams does best.

          "Obviously the guy's pretty good on direct runs and he's hard to get down behind the line of scrimmage, but I think that he is a more diverse runner than he probably gets credit for," Adams said. "I think the guy does a really nice job with some of the outside zone stuff, particularly the weak side.

          "He's got really quick feet. He's able to get in and out of cuts really well. And he's one of those dudes that's not scared to run through the smoke, and that's what you're going to have to do on some of the time. I think he's good at a lot of things."

          Tuesday, Aug. 4

          Sometimes coaches can be inventive when it comes to putting players through drills. On Tuesday, wide receivers coach Junior Adams had CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens catching passes off the Jugs machine during a special teams portion of practice while wearing what looked like a mosquito net or beekeeper's hat.

          The goal is to limit the receiver's vision and force him to concentrate longer on the catch. Lamb dropped one pass but figured it out. The first pass went through Pickens' hands, and he was finished.

          Longtime tight ends coach Mike Pope, who had a stint with the Cowboys, said he had 478 different drills for his tight ends. He would throw ice water at shirtless players while wearing a helmet. He had them wear swim goggles to limit their peripheral vision.

          Let's see if Adams has more tricks in his bag.

          More observations:

          • Defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku was tossed from practice for fighting. Brian Schottenheimer abhors fighting in practice because if a player throws a punch in a game, he gets ejected. A lesson to be learned for Ezeiruaku.

          • With linebacker DeMarvion Overshown battling a sore leg (a source said it was nothing to do with his surgically repaired knee), rookie Jaishawn Barham worked with the first-team defense next to Dee Winters.

          • Quarterback Dak Prescott went 13-of-17 in team drills and would have been better if not for drops by Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson. He tried to stretch the field once with a throwback down the field to Pickens, who drew a flag on cornerback Shavon Revel at the goal line for pass interference.

          • Ferguson had two excellent catches, however, adjusting on a slightly underthrown seam ball from Prescott and later securing a lower pass with one hand before getting it under control.

          • Cornerback Cobie Durant came up with the defensive play of the day, knocking away a deep ball from Prescott to wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Safety Alijah Clark was tangled up on the play and limped off to the medical tent and did not return.

          Monday, Aug. 3

          No, there is not going to be a playcaller controversy when it comes to the Cowboys this season, but coach Brian Schottenheimer gave the controls to coordinator Klayton Adams for two periods in Monday's practice, including red zone work.

          The result? Four touchdowns in a six-play span, including one to Ryan Flournoy where the receiver wrestled the ball away from cornerback DaRon Bland for the score from Dak Prescott.

          "[Bland] actually guarded it great," Flournoy said. "I just had to win on that. I dropped slant before that so I had to make it up. Yeah, definitely great defense by DB. I just had to show strong hands."

          More observations from the day:

          • Second-year CB Shavon Revel Jr. had a solid day, breaking up Prescott throws to CeeDee Lamb and Flournoy, and blanketing George Pickens on a fade in the end zone. He had a pass interference penalty, reaching too early on a throw to Pickens, but it might have been the best practice Revel has had.

          • CB Cobie Durant picked off Prescott, undercutting a throw to Lamb near the goal line in which he dropped off another receiver and came up with the interception.

          • TE Jake Ferguson was back at practice after missing Saturday for personal reasons. He displayed strong hands on a TD catch in the back of the end zone while being covered by S Markquese Bell.

          • NFL officials were on hand for practice, but backup QB Joe Milton III took it into his own hands when an official did not throw a flag on rookie CB Devin Moore on a contested throw to Lamb in the end zone. The pass came on the defensive sideline, so perhaps there was some influence there, but Moore was aggressive on the play in a good way.

          • Prescott was 12-of-21 in team drills Monday after starting 3-of-7 with the Durant pick.

          • TE Princeton Fant left practice early after colliding with RB Israel Abanikanda.

          Saturday, Aug. 1

          The red zone is an area the Cowboys want to see a lot of offensive improvement in in 2026, and Saturday's practice had plenty of work from inside the 20.

          Dak Prescott had touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb on the post, two to Ryan Flournoy (dig, slot fade) and a bullet of a throw low to the outside that receiver George Pickens corralled for the score.

          There was one interception when a Prescott checkdown was tipped by running back Jaydon Blue into the arms of safety Malik Hooker.

          Prescott finished the day unofficially 11-of-18 in team drills.

          Last year, the Cowboys converted a touchdown on 37-of-65 red zone drives. So, what makes a good red zone offense?

          "Finishing in the end zone, executing when you need to, third downs, sometimes on first (down)," Lamb said. "Just being able to not really bat ourselves in the foot, those self-inflicted wounds or penalties that'll really bring us back or kill our momentum. And again, finishing in the end zone."

          More observations from the day:

          • It's hard not to notice rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham. He is seeing some work with the first-team defense so far. He is active in the run game, filling holes, but he also showed good feel for zone work, knocking down a Prescott pass near the goal line.

          • With Jalen Thompson (hip flexor) and P.J. Locke (knee) not practicing, safeties Alijah Clark and Markquese Bell shared the work with the first-team defense.

          • The catch of the day belonged to undrafted rookie Camden Brown on a fade from Sam Howell. The pass to the back pylon was in a perfect spot and Brown controlled the ball as he was going to the ground.

          • Brandon Aubrey went 5-for-6 on field goal attempts, missing wide right from 44 yards.

          • T.J. Bass has yet to play center in a game in his career, but he is currently the backup to Cooper Beebe. So far, no off-kilter shotgun snaps. Bass' versatility is a plus for the offensive line.

          Friday, July 31

          Tyler Booker knew Cowboys' first-round pick Caleb Downs before any of his teammates. They were together for a year at Alabama before Downs transferred to Ohio State following the retirement of Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. Downs quickly earned rave reviews at Alabama, earning a starting spot as a true freshman during spring practice.

          Now four years later, Booker, the Cowboys' top pick in 2025, sees similarities in Downs' assimilation to the Cowboys.

          "Same guy. And that's not to say that he hasn't grown since I knew him as a freshman at Alabama," Booker said. "It just shows you how much of a grown man he was at Alabama. Not many guys start during spring ball, let alone in that secondary coached by Coach Saban. So first and foremost see him out there starting at that secondary during spring ball, and then to see how he played and raised the level of play to everybody else on that side of the ball at Alabama, I just knew he was special. I was very upset losing him after Coach Saban retired, but I'm just very glad he's my teammate again here in Dallas."

          Thursday, July 30

          With DeMarvion Overshown playing middle linebacker and serving as the "green dot," making the calls from the coach to the defense for the first time, the Cowboys want to make sure they expose him to everything, even early in training camp.

          At one point in practice, defensive coordinator Christian Parker acted like the coach-to-player communication system went out to see how Overshown would react.

          "It didn't go out. We had kind of talked about it and scripted it and Demo got to the exact call that he was supposed to, which is what you expect," coach Brian Schottenheimer said. "So it was not a malfunction of the headset. It was something scripted and Demo was outstanding getting us lined up into the call that we wanted to be in."

          Wednesday, July 29

          After putting up 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, all career highs, in 2025, George Pickens has set a high bar in 2026 as he is set to play the year on the $27.3 million franchise tag. Coach Brian Schottenheimer made mention a couple of times last year of Pickens' tardiness, so it means something when he references Pickens' early off-field work to open training camp.

          "He was as dialed in in meetings as I've seen him since he's been here, just following along, questions," Schottenheimer said. "I think you're going to see a very motivated George Pickens going into the season. And I think that's great news for us and maybe bad news for the rest of the league."

          Tuesday, July 28

          For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys open camp with a fully healthy roster and won't have players working off to the side rehabbing from offseason surgeries or injuries.

          The Cowboys will not have a player on the physically unable to perform or non-football injury lists. While players such as cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) and edge player Donovan Ezeiruaku (hip) are cleared for practice, coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team will monitor the status of each, especially early in camp after they spent most of the offseason in rehab.

          "We're very, very healthy going to the camp and hope that that continues," Schottenheimer said.