The Dallas Cowboys defense got the kind of training camp headline it badly needed on Tuesday.
During a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, the Cowboys’ defense came out on top, with reports from Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com saying the unit controlled the day. Matthew Stafford “really struggled” against Christian Parker’s defensive looks, and the Dallas side walked away with the clear edge in the scrimmage work.
That doesn’t mean the Rams were operating with a full hand. Both teams likely kept portions of their game plans under wraps, so the drill work wasn’t a perfect snapshot of what these offenses will look like in the regular season. Even so, the early read was unmistakable: Dallas had the better day.
The biggest playmaking punch came from linebacker Justin Barron, who the team confirmed on X picked off three passes against the Rams. One of those turnovers came against Stetson Bennett, and Barron’s day was strong enough to make him a name worth watching as roster decisions draw closer.
For a Cowboys linebacker group that still carries some concern heading into the season, Barron’s performance adds pressure on the rest of the room to answer. If he keeps stacking days like this through camp and preseason, Dallas may not have much choice when it comes time to trim the roster to 53.
The Rams also dealt with an absence on offense when star receiver Puka Nacua left practice early because of an unknown injury, another blow to a unit that already had trouble getting much going.
It’s only training camp, and Dallas still has to prove this holds up when the games count. But after the defensive lows of 2025, this was exactly the kind of day Cowboys fans were hoping to hear about.
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