The first week of the Cowboys’ 2026 preseason schedule is closing in, and training camp in Oxnard has already given Dallas a different feel.
Two things have stood out most as camp has moved toward the midway point: the physical edge is real, and the defense is being drilled on the little things.
That first point has been impossible to miss. Dallas opened camp with a level of intensity fans haven’t seen in Oxnard in a while, and even the practices without pads have carried more pop than usual.
For an offense that still has plenty of players who worked under former head coach Mike McCarthy, the difference is obvious. McCarthy’s teams were not known for bringing that kind of edge to training camp, so the current staff’s approach has been a noticeable shift.
Intensity in July doesn’t guarantee anything once the games count, but it does matter when a team has spent the offseason talking about toughness and accountability. For Cowboys fans who have been asking for a more physical identity, the early signs in Oxnard are at least encouraging.
The other theme showing up is on defense, where the emphasis has been less about relying on talent alone and more about everybody doing their job. Coaches have stressed execution and communication within the scheme, which matters even more with all the offseason changes on that side of the ball.
There are new faces across the defense and a new defensive coordinator, so getting everyone on the same page is as important as the splash plays fans have been waiting to see since Dan Quinn and Micah Parsons left. Training camp is the time to clean that up. If the assignments are handled correctly on both sides of the ball, Dallas can play faster because players aren’t spending snaps thinking about where they’re supposed to be.
That detail work could end up being one of the biggest factors in deciding whether the Cowboys’ revamped defense looks better when the regular season gets here.
In Other News...
Cowboys Face A Running Back Temptation They May Need To Resist
The Cowboys backup running back competition has already given this camp a little extra intrigue, with Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, Israel Abanikanda and Malik Davis all trying to carve out a role behind the top of the depth chart. It is the kind of battle Dallas can afford to let play out for a while, especially with special teams value and all-around reliability likely to matter as much as pure rushing ability when roster decisions finally get made.
Still, the market can create its own temptation, and one name worth watching has surfaced out of Pittsburgh. A Steelers insider recently noted that Kaleb Johnson could be on the chopping block because of his limited special teams contribution, which is exactly the sort of profile that can draw interest elsewhere. For Dallas, though, the wiser move may be patience, whether that means continuing to sort through its own young backs or looking to a more proven veteran only if the need becomes undeniable. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Camp Battles Are Already Reshaping Key Spots On This Roster
The Cowboys have already moved through eight practices, and two full weeks of camp have started to sort out which pieces fit as Christian Parker works to reshape a defense that needs more clarity before the regular season arrives. There have been encouraging showings along the way, with Marist Liufau, T.J. Bass, Sam Howell and Shavon Revel Jr. all drawing positive attention as the roster begins to take shape.
Not every veteran has helped his case, though, and the pressure is showing on players such as Jonathan Mingo and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as the battles for spots and roles tighten. What makes this stretch so important for Dallas is how quickly these early practices are turning into real roster implications, with some jobs appearing more secure by the day while other competitions are only getting more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Trevon Diggs Could Turn His Cowboys Exit Into NFC Revenge
Trevon Diggs path away from Dallas has taken another turn, and it could land him with an NFC contender just as the Cowboys are trying to keep moving forward without him. The former Dallas cornerback is looking for a team for the 2026 season after injuries and a dip in play led to his release, and a brief stop with the Green Bay Packers left him back in free-agent territory.
Now Detroit is in the mix, which gives this storyline a little extra edge because any reunion with an NFC opponent would only sharpen the ripple effects of Diggs departure. A move there would put him on the other side of a conference rivalry the Cowboys know well, and it would give Diggs a fresh platform to show he still belongs in the league. [Read more 🡒]