The second week of Cowboys camp brought a clearer picture of who is building momentum and who still has work to do before the preseason gets rolling. With pads on and a joint practice with the LA Rams set for Tuesday, Dallas got a more physical look at its roster - and a few players separated themselves in opposite directions.
Caleb Downs has been one of the most intriguing names in camp, and the challenge the Cowboys have handed him is no small thing. They’ve asked him to handle a full-time nickel role, which has meant plenty of snaps across from CeeDee Lamb, arguably the league’s best slot receiver.
Over the last two days, though, Downs has answered that test. He went viral on Sunday after breaking up a slot fade to Lamb in the end zone during red-zone work, and he’s starting to look more at ease every day.
The Cowboys want him to become a foundational piece on defense, and the first two weeks have shown steady progress.
Rashan Gary also made his presence felt once the pads came on, and that was hardly a surprise for a player built on physicality. What stood out was how disruptive he’s been against the run.
He’s come up with several big stops, including one play where he threw Tyler Smith to the ground to finish a tackle. Gary may not end up as a double-digit sack guy for Dallas, but he has clearly been their best EDGE rusher in Week 2, and his value is showing up all over the defensive front.
Another player earning attention is Camden Brown, who has put together back-to-back practices with highlight-reel moments. He’s not just living off splash plays, either.
Brown has been in the mix for the WR5 job because of his consistency, and that matters as the Cowboys sort through the bottom of the receiver room. The next step is proving it carries over into preseason action, especially with the history Dallas has had with undrafted receivers flashing in camp before fading later.
On the other side of the ledger, Drew Shelton has had a rough stretch. The Cowboys like his athletic traits and believe he can grow into a swing tackle option, but he’s not there yet.
Sam Williams, Malachi Lawrence, and James Houston have all gotten the better of him on easy wins over the last few days, and the early returns have been especially bumpy at right tackle. He should see plenty of preseason reps because he needs them.
Luke Schoonmaker hasn’t put together any truly bad practices, but he also hasn’t made enough noise in a crowded tight end room. Jake Ferguson looks leaner and more explosive, while Brevyn Spann-Ford has been a dominant blocker and a big reason Dallas has popped several long runs during padded work. Schoonmaker still looks set to make the 53-man roster, but the picture is pointing toward him being TE3 with a limited role.
Sam Howell entered camp with a real chance to challenge for the backup quarterback job behind Joe Milton, especially after Dallas gave him $2 million in guaranteed money this offseason. That competition hasn’t tilted his way so far.
Howell has been more turnover-prone than Milton and has mostly worked as the No. 3 quarterback. He’ll get opportunities in the preseason to change that, but Week 2 did not help his case.
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Cowboys Preseason Opener Puts Several Roster Battles Under Real Pressure
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For some of those players, the pressure is already a little sharper than it was a week ago, and the Seahawks game offers a chance to change that trajectory in a hurry. Preseason is usually about sorting through the margins, and Dallas has several competitions that could swing on how a player looks against live opponent reps, from quarterback to the line to the back end of the defense. [Read more 🡒]