The Dallas Cowboys are closing in on their preseason opener, but one of camp’s early bright spots is probably going to wait a little longer to make his game debut.
Rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham, who turned heads early in Oxnard with strong practices and glowing feedback from the coaching staff and those watching, has been dealing with a groin injury that sidelined him for the past few practices. He was back on the field Friday for the team’s walkthrough, helmet on and working through practice, but ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that Barham is not expected to play Saturday night against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
That’s a delay, not a setback that should raise alarms. The fact that Barham was back out there at least suggests he’s moving in the right direction, and the Cowboys will be hoping he can get back to full speed soon and be ready for Week 2 of the preseason.
Barham has already shown enough to make people notice. Even as a rookie, he’s looked like someone who could become an impact player.
The Cowboys and Seahawks are set for Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET in Seattle, with the game airing on NFL Network and local listings. DraftKings Sportsbook lists Seattle as a 3-point favorite, with the over/under at 39.5.
After Saturday night, Dallas will head back to Oxnard for two more full practices at River Ridge Playing Fields before facing the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Saturday, August 22. From there, the Cowboys will return home to Frisco, finish camp with a handful of open practices for fans, and then close out the preseason against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium.
The finish line is getting closer, and so is the 53-man roster cutdown and the regular season.
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The Cowboys have spent the offseason selling continuity on offense and a fresh start on defense, with all 11 offensive starters back and a completely rebuilt unit now under a first-year defensive coordinator. On paper, that is the sort of setup that invites optimism in late summer, especially for a team that believes the pieces are finally lined up well enough to matter when the games count.
Still, not everyone is buying the preseason buzz. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk slotted Dallas 17th in his 2026 preseason power rankings and pointed to the franchises history as the reason he is keeping the Super Bowl talk at arms length, which is a familiar kind of reminder for this team. The Cowboys will get at least one low-stakes look when they face the Seahawks in the preseason, though the starters are not expected to play, leaving the real evaluation for later. [Read more 🡒]
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Sean McVay Just Gave Cowboys Fans Real Hope About This Defense
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Sean McVays praise added a little more credibility to what Dallas has been building, with the Rams coach pointing to the Cowboys changes and singling out players such as Justin Barron and Shavon Revel for standing out. The front seven in particular has looked improved, and while preseason reps do not settle anything, they can at least tell you whether a defense is trending in the right direction. For the Cowboys, this one felt like a meaningful step. [Read more 🡒]