Don't miss any of the action with our daily updates: news, notes and more throughout the Cowboys' regular season. Presented by Blockchain.com
August 31 Updates
With week one quickly approaching, eyes are starting to lock in on safety Donovan Wilson and his availability ahead of the Sept. 10 season opener after suffering a calf injury on the first day of training camp.
When asked about it on Thursday, head coach Mike McCarthy said that a more complete update would be available early next week.
"It's going okay," McCarthy said about Wilson's recovery. "We'll have more for you on Monday. He won't work in a full capacity today."
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August 30 Updates
2:44 p.m. — It didn't take long for Will Grier to find a new home in the NFL, only one day after being released by the Dallas Cowboys in the wake of trading for quarterback Trey Lance.
Grier has signed onto the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad, the team announced on Wednesday, marking his first change of teams since 2021 — when he joined the Cowboys practice squad.
The former third-round pick (2019) began his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers before heading to Dallas, ultimately seeing Cooper Rush cement the role of QB2; and now Lance joins the Cowboys QB room as the developmental quarterback.
Grier gets a fresh start in Cincinnati after playing a career-best game in the preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, serving backup to Joe Burrow and Jake Browning, reuniting with former offensive line teammate La'El Collins in the process.
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August 28 Updates
6:48 p.m. — The Arizona Cardinals announced on Monday that they have officially moved quarterback Kyler Murray to the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List, which rules the former No. 1 overall pick out for at least the first four games of the team's season.
With the Cowboys traveling to Glendale on Sept. 24, Dallas will officially see a different signal-caller with Joshua Dobbs being the expected starter in Arizona. Rookie Clayton Tune and David Blough are the only other quarterbacks on the roster after veteran Colt McCoy was cut by the organization on Monday.
The Cowboys will look to improve upon their 3-7 record in their last 10 games at Arizona when they travel to State Farm Stadium in week three.
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4:18 p.m. — With Tuesday's 3:00 p.m. CT deadline to cut the roster to 53 impending, head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff along with the front office are working diligently today and early tomorrow to make final decisions.
As it pertains specifically to the offensive line depth, McCarthy acknowledged the challenge in the room as of now.
"Oh yeah, we got some work to do," McCarthy said about the offensive line. "We just had a pretty extensive personnel meeting, but we're still working through it."
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August 26 Updates
11:30 p.m. — It was a bittersweet night for quarterback Will Grier, who is expected to be released this week after the Cowboys traded for former No. 3 overall pick QB Trey Lance. Despite that, Grier turned in a legendary preseason performance, going 29-for-35 for 305 yards and four total touchdowns in leading the Cowboys to a 31-16 win.
"Mixed emotions," Grier said. "Bittersweet, man. I'm close with a lot of these guys. That's the hardest part. It's been tough, but I've been through tougher stuff. I got a lot of respect for this organization and the Jones family. I understand that it's a business at the end of the day, and I respect that. The hardest part for me is leaving this place. I got really close with the team, and that's the toughest part about what we do."
Tonight's opportunity to play from start-to-finish served as an audition of sorts for the rest of the NFL, as he took a moment to speak on what another team would be getting in his services.
"I think my play speaks for itself what I can do on the field," he said. "I'm a team-first guy and I'd say to them to ask the people around me."
Grier wrapped his interview with his signature confidence.
"I'm gonna be just fine. Everybody will be just fine."
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11:15 p.m. —Dak Prescott's immediate future isn't necessarily affected by the addition of Trey Lance, but there was some noticeable angst in his postgame interview on Saturday night. Whether that had to do with Lance arriving or Will Grier departing could be left up for interpretation, but Prescott emphasized that he's excited about welcoming in his new teammate.
"I understand it's a business, that's a first-round talent," Prescott said. "We're gonna welcome him as we do with any teammate, and hopefully he makes us better and we continue to get after the one goal we have as a team."
When asked if the trade surprised him, Prescott was a bit reserved but did say that his surprise factor is affected by the business of the league.
"To be honest with you, I'm not surprised with anything anymore," he said. "I've been in this league for eight years on this team, it's hard to say I was surprised."
Quarterback room aside, the next time the offense touches the field will be with Dak Prescott under center in week one, as he is starting to count down the days before he gets to start the journey with his 2023 squad.
"Damn sure excited," he said. "Being more involved with this game just raised that excitement. I'm ready to kick this thing off the right way. We got a great team that's heading into New York."
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11:00 p.m. —Kicker Brandon Aubrey may have just booked his plane ticket to New York for Sept. 10 after nailing a 59-yard field goal following a miss from the same distance earlier in the game.
"I was able to realize that I just put a little too much on the first one, take some off and just hit my normal ball," Aubrey said. "It was nice and pure and it went through the uprights."
Aubrey has been noticeably composed in his opportunities during the preseason, and it was evident on his 59-yard make in the fourth quarter. For him, it's all part of his process in his new chapter with the Cowboys.
"I try to completely quiet the mind," he said. "I have a process where I'm on the field and I'm talking to myself the whole time just so no other thoughts go in my head. I try to stay even-keeled, don't want to have too little pressure on myself and get a little lax, or have too much pressure on myself and be a little tense, so right in the middle there."
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11:00 p.m. — Not to be overshadowed by Will Grier's big night was a spectacular performance in his own right from undrafted free agent Hunter Luepke. The North Dakota State product rushed for 58 yards on 10 carries while also hauling in five receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown.
"Coaches talked to me a little bit and said they wanted to get me more reps this week," Luepke said. "I just took that and ran with it. Every time I was on the field, I was gonna give it my best effort like I always do."
Luepke is the lone player on the roster that has been teammates with Trey Lance as the two shared a season together at North Dakota State. For Luepke, he's thrilled about welcoming in his former QB1 to Dallas.
"I haven't talked to him yet, but I'm gonna shoot him a text tonight," he said. "Pretty excited that I get to be teammates with him again. I think Trey is one of the best leaders I've been around in the locker room before. He always has positive energy, which really helps in the huddle no matter what kind of game's going. He really does that well. Off the field, he's a really special guy too."
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9:15 p.m. — A fun wrinkle in Saturday night's preseason finale for the Cowboys included Dak Prescott getting the nod as the team's play-caller, as head coach Mike McCarthy found an interesting way to get Prescott even more comfortable in the new offense.
Prescott spoke about the opportunity at halftime after putting 21 points up on the board on the back of Will Grier.
"Yeah, it's fun," Prescott said. "It's a great time. This is the [stuff] you dream about when you play this game. It's not just playing the game, it's being able to impact it every which way. Obviously knowing that this is a big night for Will [Grier], I was just trying to make him comfortable, keep him comfortable and continue with the spirit we have going."
In the first half, the Cowboys accounted for 285 yards of total offense with 231 of those yards coming from Grier.
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August 25 Updates
7:11 p.m. — The Cowboys are finalizing a trade with the 49ers to land quarterback Trey Lance, according to multiple national reports, including NFL.com.
Lance, the former No. 3 overall pick of San Francisco in 2021, has started just four career games and found himself as the third-string QB for the 49ers during camp this season.
During the 49ers-Chargers game on Friday night, 49ers GM John Lynch addressed the situation on the team's TV broadcast. "Hard day. He's such a good kid. We took a shot and it didn't work out. We own that," Lynch said. "His story is still very much unwritten. I'm excited for Trey. Dallas stepped up and really wanted him. I think it's going to be a great landing spot for him."
The Cowboys reportedly will send a fourth-round pick to the 49ers in 2024 for Lance, who would have two seasons left on his deal, and then a fifth-year option for 2025.
If the move is finalized, Lance would likely be the third QB here in Dallas behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. Will Grier is the only other quarterback on the Cowboys' roster.
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August 24 Updates
2:00 p.m. — Seventh-year defensive back Jourdan Lewis is still on his road to recovery from a Lisfranc foot injury suffered late in the 2022 season against the Detroit Lions, but he is close to making his long-awaited return after missing all offseason activities including training camp.
On Thursday, head coach Mike McCarthy updated his progress to say that he's ahead of the curve of where he was initially expected to make it back.
"We all love J-Lew, he's definitely pushing it," McCarthy said. "He's ahead of schedule, but I don't have a decision for you on that today. He's done very well."
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1:45 p.m. —Following Sam Williams' arrest on Sunday for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon, head coach Mike McCarthy shared on Thursday that he met with him "right away" to discuss the issue.
"He knows what he needs to do," McCarthy said. "We can all do better. I think anytime you make a mistake, it's a good wakeup call. I believe in Sam Williams, obviously I did when we drafted him and even more so now. I've seen him grow in so many different ways. He needs to slow down, he knows that. That's the first step. I'm comfortable with the direction he's going, but he needs to learn from this."
Williams has not missed any practice time this week and Jerry Jones said on Wednesday that he doesn't expect his arrest to impact his availability for this season.
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August 23 Updates
7:00 p.m. — David Durden, an undrafted rookie wide receiver for the Cowboys, collapsed to the field in considerable pain during a rep on Wednesday afternoon.
It was a non-contact injury and the young wideout was grasping at his leg prior to the medical staff carting him off of the field for further evaluation.
Durden returned not long ago from a head injury suffered after making a catch downfield in a practice in Oxnard.
The severity of the current injury is unclear at this time.
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August 22 Updates
7:31 p.m. - Ronald Jones returned to practice in some capacity on Wednesday giving him at least a chance at making his preseason debut for the Cowboys when they host the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.
Though he was limited and returned to the rehab group following individual drills. Jones continues to deal with a groin injury that's left him unavailable for the first two preseason games — in a battle for RB2/RB3 that's heated up in his absence.
Since he's been sidelined, Deuce Vaughn, Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis have all taken advantage of the extra snaps as the compete for the spots behind starter Tony Pollard.
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7:18 p.m. - It was promising to see Matt Waletzko in pads and participating in practice on Wednesday, only four days after leaving the contest in Seattle with a shoulder subluxation.
The second-year offensive lineman has looked good in training camp and in the preseason, but is also battling to remain healthy and productive after seeing his rookie season derailed by injury.
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August 19 Updates
9:10 p.m.— Another player is being evaluated for injury by the Cowboys, this time in the safety unit, with Sheldrick Redwine leaving the field against the Seahawks. The veteran is now dealing with a hamstring injury that has forced Dallas to rule him out with just over one quarter remaining.
Redwine joined the Cowboys' practice squad in 2022 before being signed to a futures deal and has been solid in training camp this summer, adding to a strong rotation of youth in combination with Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell.
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9:00 p.m. – Rookie tight end John Stephens Jr. (left knee) exited the game on the first drive of the second half with a limp and headed to the locker room shortly thereafter.
Stephens has been one of the stars of training camp in Oxnard after coming in as an undrafted wide receiver out of Louisiana-Lafayette and excelling at tight end during camp. The former Ragin' Cajun was the leading receiver for the Cowboys in the opening preseason contest against Jacksonville.
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8:30 p.m. – Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Matt Waletzko exited Saturday's preseason exhibition against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half with a shoulder injury, and he will not return.
During training camp of 2022, Waletzko battled shoulder subluxation that put him on the IR during the season. However, this injury is not to the same shoulder.
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7:45 p.m. – Dallas Cowboys rookie linebacker DeMarvion Overshown exited Saturday's preseason contest against the Seattle Seahawks with a left knee injury late in the first quarter, and he will not return.
Overshown walked off the field under his own power before being carted out of the injury tent and into the locker room shortly after. The third-round pick from April's draft suffered the injury on a tackle on the right sideline that kept a Seattle reception to a minimal gain.
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August 15 Updates
Micah Parsons, who came off the field on Tuesday and was seen limping after practice, is good to go for Wednesday's final padded practice in Oxnard, according to head coach Mike McCarthy.
Parsons has had a strong training camp heading into his third season with the Dallas Cowboys as he looks to take a step forward in winning the Defensive Player of the Year award and a Lombardi Trophy. He'll finish off his strong camp with a full session on Wednesday.
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August 15 Updates
4:41 p.m. – When Zack Martin walked through the doors for the first time here in camp, all of his teammates greeted him with excitement.
Maybe Terence Steele as much as anyone. For one, the Cowboys' starting right tackle says Martin "taught him so much" throughout his career and getting to line up next to him every play will certainly make him a better player.
Secondly, Steele is also one of the players that could be next in line for a new deal. The Cowboys came into training camp looking to re-sign a few players and so far, Trevon Diggs, Malik Hooker and now Martin have all seen extensions.
"I'll let my agent handle that," Steele said with a smile.
Steele is playing his fourth seasons as a restricted free agent and will be unrestricted in 2024 if no deal or extension is reached.
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2:37 p.m. - On his first day at practice during this camp, Zack Martin also did his first interview at the podium. Naturally, he was asked about sitting out, and the reason why he felt the need to miss the first three weeks of camp.
"It was definitely difficult," Martin said. "I mean shoot, if you would have asked me a few years ago if I'd ever be a hold-out guy, I'd probably say no. That's what I felt it had to come down to reach some of my goals that I was looking for and luckily it worked out there.
When asked specifically why he sat out, Martin said it came down accomplishments and respect.
"I've been here a long time, I feel like I've accomplished some good things," he said. "At the end of the day, I felt this was something that I had earned and deserved. it had been on my mind a lot ever since last season and trying to get those talks early in teh offseason and kinda not seeing it go my way a little bit, come to the realization, if I felt this strongly about it and I wanted it to get done, this was something I would have to do."
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10:40 a.m. — Ronald Jones continues to work his way back from a groin injury suffered in the Blue-White Practice, having been absent from practice all of last week before being ultimately sidelined against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the preseason opener.
Jones will be limited at best in the Cowboys return to padded practice on Tuesday, per head coach Mike McCarthy, and it sounds as if he'll have an uphill battle in his hopes of being available against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 19.
The same can be said for offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, who suffered a hyperextended knee last week in practice.
Edoga will also be limited on Tuesday, and his status for Saturday remains undecided.
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August 14 Updates
Rookie defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko Jr. was a surprising omission from the active list for Saturday's preseason opener against Jacksonville, as a minor shoulder injury kept him sidelined for his potential debut.
"I hope so," head coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday about him returning this week. "I hope to get him back."
The fourth round pick out of San Jose State is participating in Monday's walkthrough practice, but Tuesday's padded session will be the better measuring stick on his health moving into the week.
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10:18 a.m. - Third-year cornerback Nahshon Wright, who started last week's game against the Jaguars, will be "hard-pressed" to play this week against the Seahawks, according to head coach Mike McCarthy.
Wright exited the locker room Saturday with a walking boot on his right ankle/foot, but said it was more of a precautionary boot.
If Wright doesn't play against Seattle, look for DaRon Bland and Kelvin Joseph to get more of the early reps, with the possibility of rookie Eric Scott Jr. also getting into the mix.
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10:11 a.m. - Linebacker Malik Jefferson has a chance to return to practice and possibly play against the Seahawks Saturday in the second preseason game.
Jefferson exited the game last weekend vs. Jacksonville with a foot injury that he sustained late in the third quarter.
The veteran journeyman who has played for five different teams in his NFL career, Jefferson is competing for a backup role at linebacker and on special teams for the Cowboys.
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August 12 Updates
8:03 p.m. — After the end of last season, the focus will definitely be on the kicker situation, especially with Brandon Aubrey getting all of the reps now as the lone kicker on the roster.
But after hitting an extra point and a short field goal, Aubrey missed an extra point try to the left that would've given the Cowboys a three-point lead.
"I just rushed it a little bit," Aubrey said after the game. "I felt good on the first kicks but that one I just went too fast. I was able to slow it done after that."
Aubrey did get another PAT late in the game and made it.
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7:57 p.m. — One of the undrafted free agents who has made a big splash in camp, carried it over to the game on Saturday.
Stephens led the team in both catches (seven) and receiving yards (56) and caught a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The rookie from Louisiana, has been impressive with his ability to catch the ball down the field. He did have a 21-yarder, but Stephens also had other short receptions to show his ability to be a possession receiver in the middle of the field.
Stephens is looking to mirror the success last year of Peyton Hendershot, who was an undrafted rookie that made the team and played nearly every game last season.
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7:49 p.m. — A year ago, Turpin made a huge splash with his two TD returns against the Chargers. But this year, the focus was his ability to play receiver.
However, Turpin had a fumble on his first punt return, leading to a Jaguars touchdown. After another dropped pass on offense before halftime, Turpin came back with a 15-yard catch that led to the Cowboys' first touchdown.
Turpin is looking to have a bigger role on offense this year, aside from just being a return specialist, which did put him in the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro selection last year as a rookie.
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7:32 p.m. — The rangy cornerback who started the game on the right side, left the locker room at the end of the game with a walking boot on his right foot/ankle.
Wright said he didn't think the injury was serious at all, stating the boot was more precautionary especially with the team leaving on a flight after the game to head back to Oxnard.
Wright is battling the likes of Kelvin Joseph, Eric Scott Jr. and others for the fourth cornerback spot behind Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore and DaRon Bland.
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7:19 p.m. — A foot injury sidelined the veteran linebacker for the remainder of the game. Jefferson left the game in the third quarter and didn't return. He's battling for a backup linebacker spot on defense and special teams.
Jefferson, a standout at Texas in college, has been on and off the Cowboys roster and practice squad for the past two seasons.
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7:13 p.m. — The second-year tight end was told before the game he would start, but only play for one quarter so he had to make the most of it. Ferguson did just that, actually providing most of the offense in the early going.
"I knew I had to go out there and make some plays early," Ferguson said. "I felt like (Cooper Rush) did a good job of finding me and getting the ball out when he could. It wasn't a lot (of snaps) but it was good work when I was there."
Ferguson finished the game with three catches for 38 yards, including a 26-yard reception.
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August 10 Updates
10:38 a.m. — First-round pick DT Mazi Smith missed practice on Tuesday as he got an MRI done to determine the severity of a knee tendinitis issue, but Mike McCarthy said on Thursday that Smith will practice for the team's final session before the preseason opener on Saturday.
Practicing on Thursday puts him in position to make his preseason debut along with the rest of the rookie class on Saturday despite some doubt earlier in the week. His presence in the interior defensive line will be one of the big spotlights going into the game against Jacksonville.
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August 9 Updates
11 a.m. — Tony Pollard was noticeably absent over the past couple of practices in Cowboys training camp, but for one of the best possible reasons.
The Pro Bowl running back was back home celebrating the birth of his second daughter, Maui, returning to the team on Wednesday for the mock game and walkthrough.
"I love being a dad," said Pollard.
He enters the 2023 season wearing a huge grin, and also looking to prove he's one of the best backs in the NFL after signing his franchise tag earlier this offseason.
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August 8 Updates
10:30 a.m. — The training camp debut of Luke Schoonmaker landed on Monday, with the rookie second-round pick being activated from the NFI list after having dealt with plantar fasciitis this summer.
Schoonmaker was present in a limited capacity on Monday, participating only in individual drills before being relegated to the sideline during team reps/drills.
That won't be the case on Tuesday, as head coach Mike McCarthy notes, with Schoonmaker being ramped up and allowed to get work in "selective" team reps as he takes another step forward toward a potential preseason debut at some point this month.
Once he's a full go, the former Wolverine will join a tight ends depth chart that is not lacking for playmakers when factoring in his untapped potential as a receiver to complement his blocking ability.
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10:30 a.m. — Newly minted first-team running back Tony Pollard was notably absent from practice on Monday, and head coach Mike McCarthy said that he is not in Oxnard for personal reasons but is set to back it back to camp tonight.
"I'll let Tony speak on his personal business and him not being here," McCarthy said. "He gets back in town tonight. We'll obviously work tomorrow in the mock game and he'll practice Thursday."
Pollard's absence on Monday allowed the depth of the running back room to get full first-team reps as Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle especially excelled. That duo along with Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke will get the same opportunity on Tuesday, but without Ronald Jones who is still nursing a groin injury.
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August 7 Updates
10:51 a.m. - Rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who has been nursing a plantar fasciitis injury since arriving in Dallas in late April, will come off the NFI list and make his practice debut on Monday, head coach Mike McCarthy said in his Monday press conference.
"I think like any of these situations, ramp up is part of the beginning of camp for a reason," McCarthy said. "When a player comes off of NFI, we will put him through a workload capacity of a ramp-up. With that, you'll see him in individual drills. He'll have a detailed worksheet each and every day just to get him back. He obviously won't be full go."
When asked if he could play in Saturday's preseason opener against Jacksonville, McCarthy said that the staff will see how he does this week in practice.
"He's been in the classroom the whole time and he has a relatively high understanding of what's being asked of him," he said. "The key is to see if he can apply it and get up to the speed of the game."
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10:44 a.m. - Seventh-year defensive back Jourdan Lewis, who suffered a Lisfranc injury to his foot in week seven of last season, is progressing through his rehab process, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. While there isn't a timeline for his return from the PUP List, McCarthy did say that there is a plan being worked through by director of rehabilitation Britt Brown.
"Jourdan is really crushing it in the rehab," McCarthy said. "As far as where he is, there's a plan for him. Knowing J-Lew, he'll push it. He's doing really, really well. I know Britt feels really good about the progress he's made the last four or five weeks."
Lewis had only missed three games in his career before missing the final 13 contests last season with the injury. In 2023, he will look to return to make up an improved Cowboys secondary.
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August 5 Updates
4 p.m. — It's been a challenging week for Ronald Jones, the two-time Super Bowl winner who signed on with the Cowboys this offseason following the team's decision to release Ezekiel Elliott.
Jones left practice on Saturday with an apparent groin injury that is being evaluated, and it is currently unknown if he'll miss any time in practice when it resumes on Monday.
The 26-year-old was served a two-game suspension earlier in the week for violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, following a lost appeal to the test results — Jones issuing a statement explaining the situation and his “disappointment” in the verdict.
He entered camp looking to hold off Malik Davis, Rico Dowdle and newcomers Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke, so every rep matters, having had a strong day on Saturday before leaving with the aforementioned injury.
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Despite a minor setback on Friday, rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker is nearing his training camp debut, head coach Mike McCarthy said on Saturday, as the second-round pick out of Michigan continues to work through a plantar fasciitis injury suffered in college.
"Not today," McCarthy said. "We're hoping possibly Monday. He had a little bit of a setback yesterday, nothing major, but a minor setback. Hopefully Monday. I think he's really close to getting past that."
Schoonmaker has only been a full participant in walk-through practices up to this point and has worked off to the side during full practices. A return to practice on Monday could set him up to participate in Dallas' preseason debut next Saturday against Jacksonville.
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August 1 Updates
10:50 a.m. — There's another key player on the Cowboys defense nursing a bit of an injury, this time being defensive end Dorance Armstrong — who was absent from team drills during the first padded session of training camp.
Armstrong spent the afternoon with the rehab group as he works through hamstring tightness, and he will be held out of practice again on Tuesday.
Coming off of a career season in 2022, Armstrong has emerged as yet another impact pass rusher for the Cowboys, and one that will be looked upon to continue to help elevate the defensive edge.
It does not appear the team is outright concerned at this moment, but it is a situation that bears monitoring going forward; though the Cowboys have already shown they're willing to exercise extreme caution this early in camp on key players.
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10:45 a.m. — In Tuesday's press conference, head coach Mike McCarthy provided updates to two key defensive pieces that have battled minor injuries in training camp. For Trevon Diggs (toe), McCarthy said he is picking up more work with each day that passes.
"The goal is for him to try to do a little more," McCarthy said. "We'll work him through the individual and see where we are."
Sam Williams, who left practice early on Monday with a shoulder strain, seems to have avoided a major issue as he will be back on the field on Tuesday.
"Sam, the goal is to get him out early and he may do some individual [work] too," he said. "We're gonna try to work him in."
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July 31 Updates
10:40 a.m. — Trevon Diggs is now the latest $100 million man for the Cowboys and, as such, don't anticipate the team pushing him unnecessarily to return to the practice field this early in training camp, currently nursing a sore/bruised toe.
As the first padded practice gets underway, Diggs will be relegated to individual drills, per head coach Mike McCarthy, as he's eased cautiously back into the mix.
The Pro Bowl cornerback has been involved in all team meetings and heavily involved in coaching up young defensive backs from the sideline last week.
There remains more than five weeks between now and the regular season debut against the Giants, and the goal is to make sure Diggs is 100% healthy for when they need him most.
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July 29 Updates
10:43 a.m. – Cornerback Trevon Diggs has been out of practice since Wednesday here in Oxnard, but he should be back on the field as early as Monday or Tuesday, according to head coach Mike McCarthy.
"He has a toe injury … we're not concerned about it," McCarthy said on Saturday before practice. "He'll probably be back early next week."
Diggs made some headlines last week when he signed a five-year contract extension that will pay him around $100 million.
In his place, third-year cornerback Nahshon Wright has taken most of the reps, opposite of Stephon Gilmore.
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July 28 Updates
3:51 p.m. – This is the fourth year Isaac Alarcon has been with the Cowboys, but the first as a defensive lineman.
While the adjustment from offense to defense could be tough for anyone, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn seems to like the progress he's seeing from Alarcon.
"If we can train him to be an inside guy with this kind of size and strength, I think he can make his mark inside," Quinn said. "He's probably more athletic than the typical defensive tackle because of his unique ability. He's a 315-pounder but you wouldn't know it looking at him. You'd think he was 280 pounds. He's got size and strength combination that will take some time to develop the instincts … but a player like that is worth the time and investment. I'm encouraged about where he is. I know the development is not the same for every player. But based off his traits, I think he'll get there faster than most."
Alarcon spent three years in the NFL's International Pathway Program, which gave teams a roster exemption for the practice squad. While he's no longer eligible for that, Alarcon could provide depth in the scout teams, especially with his experience on both sides of the ball.
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July 27 Updates
12:38 p.m. – Jalen Tolbert has turned some heads so far in the first week of training camp. Many factors might be attributed to this, whether it's connection with veteran Brandin Cooks, or his extra work with Dak Prescott this offseason.
But according to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, it might be the notes Tolbert takes in the meeting, creating a notebook that the OC described as "dynamic" when he met with the media Friday.
"Ask him to see his notebook … it's one of the coolest things I've seen," Schottenheimer said about Tolbert. "I was blown away. I told him, 'you need to save that and I'm going to use that in front of the (entire) offense. It's dynamic. It's not just about talent. These players don't get enough credit for playing full speed, but also the (mental) side, too. But he's figuring it out and that's a credit to him."
Tolbert is vying to be the fourth receiver on the depth chart behind CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Cooks.
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8:30 p.m.. — KaVontae Turpin reported to training camp earlier this week but was noticeably absent once the first practice got underway on Wednesday, and was again out of practice on Thursday, but for good reason.
The dynamic returner was excused by the team due to the birth of his child, and he is expected to return to the team on Friday.
Turpin joined the Cowboys one year ago with the hope of becoming the team's definitive kick and punt returner, and he not only went on to earn the role in the preseason, but he'd end the year with his first-ever Pro Bowl nod — as a rookie who was only months removed from winning USFL MVP honors.
As he begins Year 2 with the club, he does so now fully recharged (having had no break whatsoever from football last year) and now with a new addition to his growing family.
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11:30 a.m. – Rookie TE Luke Schoonmaker was a notable addition to the injury list on Tuesday when the team settled in in Oxnard, Calif. for training camp, as he continues to deal with a plantar fasciitis issue that lingered from his college days at Michigan.
In Thursday's press conference, head coach Mike McCarthy provided some clarity on his status and said that he expects Schoonmaker to return during training camp.
"I'm definitely hopeful of that," McCarthy said. "He's had some good workouts as of late. He's definitely making progress but I don't have a timeline."
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