Brian Schottenheimer closed out the Cowboys’ Oxnard training camp with a simple but telling gesture: he got right in the mix with his players.
On Thursday afternoon, the Dallas head coach joined the team on the sideline for the final conditioning work of camp, taking part in the last gassers of the trip. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that rookie safety Caleb Downs jokingly “bullied” Schottenheimer into running with the group.
That moment fit the tone Schottenheimer has tried to set since taking over. He has pushed a locker room built around brotherhood and accountability, and on Thursday he showed it in the most direct way possible by lining up alongside his players instead of watching from a distance.
The timing made the scene feel like a clean ending to what has been a strong stretch in Oxnard for the Cowboys. Downs has already made a strong impression in his first NFL training camp, and Schottenheimer’s approach has clearly helped reshape the feel of the room as he enters his second year leading the team.
Thursday was the final camp practice in Oxnard for Dallas before the team heads to Glendale for a Week 2 preseason matchup with the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. That game is scheduled for Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. ET on the NFL Network.
After that, the Cowboys will head back to Frisco, Texas, for two open practices at The Star. Those sessions will include an Opening Ceremony, a post-practice tailgate and drone show, plus Cowboys Night and a fan appreciation push before the preseason finale on Friday, August 28, against the New Orleans Saints.
Saturday, August 22 - PRESEASON GAME 2 vs. Arizona Cardinals: State Farm Stadium @ 10:00 p.m.
ET
Tuesday, August 25 - Opening Ceremony & Open Practice, Post-Practice Tailgate & Drone Show
Wednesday, August 26 - Cowboys Night & Open Practice
Friday, August 28 - PRESEASON GAME 3 vs.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: AT&T Stadium @ TBD
In Other News...
Cowboys Suddenly Have An Eagles Opening Worth Watching
Philadelphias pass rush plan has taken on a more uncertain feel as training camp drags on, and that is the kind of development Dallas will notice. The Eagles invested heavily in Jonathan Greenard, bringing him in via trade and backing it up with a sizable contract, so his availability matters far beyond one roster spot. What was once described as a non-long-term issue has become a lingering question, with Greenard still working his way back after a pec injury suffered in the weight room.
For the Cowboys, any hint of instability up front in Philadelphia is worth tracking because the Eagles have built around disrupting quarterbacks. Vic Fangios defense was counting on Greenard to be part of that pressure package, and the longer he remains sidelined, the more the Eagles have to adjust. The real concern now is not just when he returns, but whether the season opens with one of Philadelphias key additions already behind schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Crossed A Line In Practice And Schottenheimer Made It Clear
Joint practices are supposed to sharpen a team before the games matter, but the Cowboys and Saints spent too much of their latest session breaking up skirmishes instead of getting clean work done. One of the flash points came when linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku was ejected after throwing a punch, a moment that left Dallas offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer plainly frustrated with how the day unfolded.
Schottenheimer said the Cowboys need aggression with discipline, not the kind that turns a practice into a mess and robs both sides of productive reps. He also pointed back to Ezeiruaku's previous practice incident, making clear that the lesson has to sink in quickly for a team trying to use these joint sessions to get better, not to spend them watching tempers flare. [Read more 🡒]
Trevon Diggs Just Gave Cowboys Fans A Rival Reunion To Watch
Trevon Diggs is back on the market in a way Cowboys fans did not see coming, and the latest stop is giving this move some extra intrigue. After being waived by Dallas in December, the cornerback has signed with the Seattle Seahawks, a fresh chance for a player who has been trying to reestablish himself after injury-shortened seasons.
The reunion angle gets even more interesting because Stefon Diggs, his brother and now a Washington Commanders receiver, reposted the news and weighed in on the move. For Dallas fans, the storyline now stretches beyond the waiver wire and into familiar connections Trevon already has with Seattle coaches and players, setting up a new chapter that carries plenty of emotional and football stakes. [Read more 🡒]