OXNARD, Calif. — Things got off to a rocky start in training camp, to say the least, when the Dallas Cowboys lost one of their potential breakout pass rushers in Sam Williams — leaving the team to pivot and find solutions, both on the roster and potentially in free agency by way of new signings, to hopefully fill that void.
Much also remains unknown about the contract statuses of both Prescott and CeeDee Lamb as things wrap up in Oxnard, though new offers have been put in front of both as recently as this past weekend; and with Lamb sending a counteroffer not long thereafter.
Until the financial wrinkles are ironed out, and even until they are, the Cowboys need to lock in early in Southern California, especially considering the major changes having been made this offseason — including the split from defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and reuniting with three-time Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott.
CeeDee Lamb's holdout presents opportunity for young talent like the law firm of Jalen, Jalen & Jalen (as in Tolbert, Brooks and Cropper) to challenge others like rookie Ryan Flournoy, Pro Bowl veteran KaVontae Turpin and rising camp stars like Tyron Billy-Johnson and Kelvin Harmon for reps.
The return of All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs to full form is nearly complete, and former first-round pick Mazi Smith has plenty to remind people about going into Year 2, now back to his pre-draft weight — to the delight of many — as former third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown retakes the field after a redshirt season due to injury.
And he looks really good in doing so.
Those are just a few of the headlines spilling out of 2024 training camp as it approaches it concludes in Oxnard, and that also means wrapping up this year's official training camp hub.
Catch up on everything you might've missed below.
[Last updated on Aug. 22]
Injury News
Tyler Guyton, G - He's off to a great start to his first-ever training camp with the Cowboys and in the NFL, but the rookie first-round pick was absent for several practices with an illness. He was not expected to miss significant time and is simply being nursed back to health — allowed to participate in individual drills on Tuesday and going on to log more than 20 snaps against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and in the second scrimmage (fully) against LA. Guyton exited the final padded practice in Oxnard with knee soreness that is not being viewed with much concern.
Juanyeh Thomas, S - Having exited practice earlier this week with a groin injury, the Cowboys are deeming it a minor issue and the young safety will likely not participate in the preseason finale against the Chargers, though he is expected to be ready for the regular season opener on Sept. 8 against the Cleveland Browns.
Mazi Smith, DT - On the day set for travel to Las Vegas to face the Raiders, Smith was rushed to the hospital due to a severe allergic reaction that required emergency medical treatment. He was reevaluated the next morning and ruled out of the matchup against the Raiders, and spent the remainder of the weekend in Oxnard recovering from the incident.
Brandin Cooks, WR - Cooks left practice on Thursday, Aug. 15 under his own power and at his own request, not going down in a drill or a rep, before being evaluated in the medical tent and locker room. He did not return, but it appears precautionary as word is he's managing some knee soreness one day after participating in the second scrimmage versus the Rams.
DeMarvion Overshown, LB - The former third-round pick left the scrimmage against the Rams with what's being described as a hip pointer and, as a precaution, was held out of practice the next day as he worked off to the side with trainer Britt Brown. It was unlikely he'd participate in the second preseason game against the Raiders, and he did not.
Damone Clark, LB - The younger linebackers will be forced to step up against the Raiders (as they did versus the Rams) if Clark is held out due to soreness in his knee. Clark is having the best camp of his young career and the Cowboys don't want to risk unnecessarily making the issue worse with the regular season right around the corner.
Nate Thomas, OL - While the injury is undisclosed at this time, Thomas has been absent from practice and the rookie being sidelined adds more concern to the current depth situation on the offensive line.
Shaka Toney, DE - The preseason battle with the Rams cost Toney both his health and his roster spot. The veteran suffered a groin injury that will require time to heal, and the Cowboys needed space on their 90-man depth chart for new additions — waiving/injured the former Penn Stater.
Chuma Edoga, OT - After starting against the Rams on Sunday, Edoga exited with a foot injury that's been described as a big toe and he left SoFi Stadium in a walking boot. There was been no initial determination made on his availability for practice matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on a short week, but it has since been disclosed that Edoga will move to injured reserve and miss upwards of 10 weeks.
Earl Bostick, OT - Adding to their woes at offensive tackle is concern regarding the status of Bostick, who was carted out of the scrimmage against the Rams with an apparent leg injury. Bostick was unable to put weight on his leg and his timetable for return is undetermined, as is the current extent of his injury. He will be moved to injured reserve by the team.
Luke Schoonmaker, TE - It's no secret the former second-round pick is entering Year 2 with a need to remain healthy, but his second training camp has what he and the Cowboys hope is a minor road bump as he deals with what's described as a groin injury, but he was able to return on Tuesday to some team drills ... [Full injury story here]
Israel Mukuamu, DB - The versatile safety has been seeing a lot of work in camp, and also as a cornerback in nickel duties a time or several, but head coach Mike McCarthy says he is expected to miss time going forward with a groin injury suffered in practice over the weekend and, like some others, did not take the field against the Rams in either the joint practice or the preseason game; but the Cowboys welcomed him back in the preseason matchup against the Raiders.
Royce Freeman, RB - The veteran running back left practice on Monday, Aug. 5 with a groin injury and did not return. He will be evaluated further before a timeline will be determined, amidst a raging battle at the position. Freeman was sidelined in the preseason opener as he continues to try and rehab the injury, but he's returned to full duty and took the field in Las Vegas to deliver a solid outing.
Eric Kendricks, LB - The former First-Team All-Pro has been exceptional thus far in camp, but he was held out of the second padded practice due to what's been described as back tightness. He returned to the field on Monday, Aug. 6 in full pads and moving very well; and he appears to be healthy. He has been held out of both preseason games thus far, but not due to any injury concerns.
Deuce Vaughn, RB - The second-year running back was absent from the third padded practice as he works through a hamstring issue and has yet to return to the field outside of working with trainer Britt Brown and the rehab group, and his injury cost him the preseason opener on Sunday. Vaughn was back in full pads and participating fully in the second of two scrimmages versus the Rams a few days later, and he looked exceptional in his return to duty against the Raiders.
Sam Williams, DE - The third-year defensive end and former second-round pick went down in practice on Day 4 in excruciating pain with a non-contact injury that left him grabbing his knee. He was carted off of the field and an MRI confirmed the worst-case scenario, that Williams suffered a torn ACL and MCL and is done for the year. [**Full story here**.]
Ryan Flournoy, WR - The rookie wideout was held out of practice as a precaution, dealing with a knee issue, seen working with trainer Britt Brown on an issue the receiver labeled as minor for the time being. He continues to be absent from practice, but head coach Mike McCarthy said he doesn't deem the issue as "being serious", and the first-year receiver was in full pads on Monday, Aug. 6, though he did not practice. Ultimately, he returned to participate in the preseason opener and came out unscathed.
Trade News
- Nahshon Wright, CB (Vikings); Andrew Booth, CB (Cowboys)
In a swap of corners that mirrors the 2023 decision to send Kelvin Joseph to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Noah Igbinoghene, the Cowboys sent their former third-round pick to Minnesota to acquire their former second-round pick with the hopes of ... [full story here]
- Jordan Phillips, DL + 2026 seventh-round pick (Cowboys); 2026 sixth-round pick (Giants)
Needing to beef up the depth for the defensive interior, but to also upgrade the quality of play, Zimmer and the Cowboys are looking to Phillips to bring impact behind Mazi Smith at nose tackle and ... [full story here]
Free Agency Signings
- Linval Joseph, DE (East Carolina)**
- Carl Lawson, DE (Auburn)
- Cohl Cabral, OT (Arizona State)
- Nick Vigil, LB (Utah Sate)
- Darius Harris, LB (Middle Tennessee)
- Albert Huggins, DT (Clemson)
- Deontay Burnett, WR (USC)
- Kelvin Harmon, WR (NC State)
- Kemon Hall, CB (UNT) - claimed off of waivers
- Shaka Toney, DE (Penn State)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE (Miami - FL)
*expected but unofficial at this time*
Lawson was involved in the very same workout as was Muhammad and Toney, but didn't get the initial nod; though that's now changed with Toney being waived/injured. Lawson brings a lot to the table and that includes ... [full story here]
Both Burnett and Harmon were signed on Friday, July 27, following a successful workout that will add that much more talent to a competition at WR that is already packed to the gills with young potential. Both arrive by way of the UFL where ... (full story here).
Hall was awarded to the Cowboys on a successful waiver claim after he was waived by the San Francisco 49ers, an undrafted free agent of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019 that spent time on the Cowboys' practice squad in 2020. He enters camp with 18 NFL games under his belt to help with depth at the position following the release of soon-to-retire cornerback Gareon Conley.
Toney and Muhammad both arrive in the wake of the season-ending injury to Sam Williams, and it's a bit of a reunion for Toney — seeing as he is a former teammate of Micah Parsons at Penn State before going onto play under defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina with the Washington Commanders. Muhammad is a former sixth-round pick of the Colts who spent time with other clubs before returning to Indy in 2023, and he brings a total of 84 games and 34 NFL starts to the roster.
Just ahead of the joint practice against the Rams, the Cowboys made several roster moves that included signing Vigil, Harris and Huggins to the defensive side of the ball to add firepower for Mike Zimmer before preseason gets underway ... (full story here).
Roster Updates
Injured Reserve:
- Sam Williams
Did Not Report/Reserve List:
- CeeDee Lamb
Released:
- Carl Davis, DL
- Gareon Conley, CB
- Byron Vaughns, LB
- Sheldrick Redwine, S
Waived/Injured:
- Shaka Toney, DE
Highlight of the Day
Trey Lance had what was arguably his best practice of training camp, and that was proven when he ... (click here to watch full highlights)
Practice Points (Most Recent)
- It's beginning to truly feel as if Trevon Diggs is nearing top form, already, and that would be a massive testament to both his work ethic and the skill set within the Cowboys' training and medical staff. Less than one year after suffering a torn ACL, Diggs was on the practice field to end camp looking every bit like himself — talking trash to every receiver he was lined up against while winning nearly every rep as well, and he finished camp with two interceptions.
- Jalen Brooks was one of the receivers who often got an earful from Diggs in the final camp practice, and it was oftentimes during a live rep in team drills, and not simply after the rep was completed. A visibly frustrated Brooks would dig deep to ensure he got the last laugh, however, on a red zone drill wherein Brooks used an inside-out route to create space for a frozen rope from Dak Prescott for a touchdown with Diggs still recovering from the route break. Brooks then spun the ball at the First-Team All-Pro to let him know it's a war, not a battle.
- It is to-be-determined how many safeties/cornerbacks the Cowboys will carry on the initial 53-man roster this season, but Israel Mukuamu makes one hell of a case for himself; and yet again in the final practice. Having gotten beat by Tyron Billy-Johnson on an inside slant for a TD, the receiver then taunting Mukuamu about it, the veteran safety promised payback to anyone lined up against him. He went on to win the next three defensive reps with three consecutive PBUs before posing and looking directly at assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Al Harris — who walked up and gave him a hi-five.
Important Remaining Preseason Dates
- August 24: Preseason - Cowboys host Chargers
- August 27: Deadline to reduce roster size to max of 53 players
- August 28: Claiming period for waived players ends (Noon ET)
- August 28: Practice squad can be established to max of 16 players
*note: The Cowboys will exercise the IPP (International Pathway Exception) for undrafted rookie Denzel Daxon and receive a practice squad exemption if he is placed on that unit, meaning they will be allowed 17 players
Preseason Schedule
If you're viewing preseason games through the scope of wins and losses, you're doing it wrong. The point of these matchups is for the Cowboys (and their opponent) to put their youth and fringe players through the ringer to determine who'll rise to the top and make a name for themselves to avoid being a roster casualty ahead of the NFL deadline at the end of August.
That means every battle happening in camp will be thrust onto center stage in the Cowboys three preseason games of 2024.
Week 1 - Cowboys at Rams
Final: 13-12, Rams win
Date: Sunday, Aug 11
Location: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
Time: 3:30 pm CT
Week 2 - Cowboys at Raiders
Final: 27-12, Cowboys win
Date: Saturday, August 17
Location: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)
Time: 9 pm CT
Week 3 - Cowboys vs. Chargers
Date: Saturday, August 24
Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
Time: 3 pm CT
Camp Library
This section will house every content link relevant to 2023 training camp through August!!
