Observations from the first Dallas Cowboys training camp practice in Oxnard – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The first day of training camp is in the books.
Jaydon Blue Takes Advantage Of Phil Mafah Fumble
The backup running back role is up for grabs going into training camp, and Wednesday served as the first opportunity for the players behind Javonte Williams on the depth chart to make an impression.
After Williams started with the first-team, Mafah was the first one to rotate in. He saw a few handoffs before a Rashan Gary punchout saw him drop the ball only for rookie Caleb Downs to recover. Just like your
coach in middle school would do if a player turned the ball over in practice, Mafah was subbed out.
Jaydon Blue rotated in and immediately ran for a 45-yard touchdown that probably would have stood if the pads were on. It was a big play to set the tone for what is to come this training camp at the position.
Deeper in the room, Israel Abanikanda and Dominic Richardson both popped big runs with the third-team unit.
George Pickens Generates Crowd Excitement
The crowd on-hand at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard wasn’t packed by any means in the middle of a weekday, but there were a good amount of youth groups and Cowboys fans on-hand.
The ones who did make the trip to see the Cowboys were treated with some excitement in the form of George Pickens during the team period. In one of the first plays of full 11-on-11 work, Dak Prescott found Pickens on the right side for a quick completion. Had it been in full pads, he most likely would’ve immediately been wrapped up by DaRon Bland, but he squeaked out and ran all the way down the field before falling on his back across the end zone.
The crowd loved it, and they cheered on Pickens while he ran back into the huddle. After the practice, he spent a good amount of time signing autographs with fans as well. For a player that has had a public eye on his contract situation this offseason, Pickens has been front-and-center with his mentality and approach in Oxnard so far.
It took one practice for the Dallas Cowboys to make telling Caleb Downs reveal at training camp – Mauricio Rodriguez, AtoZ Sports
Caleb Downs was all over the field on the first day of camp.
It took one Dallas Cowboys practice to reveal something surprising about first-round rookie Caleb Downs. The Cowboys held their first open practice of training camp in Oxnard, California, and the early defensive alignment was very revealing. That starts with the first-round rookie’s usage.
Cowboys use Downs everywhere in first practice
For months, the Cowboys had Caleb Downs penciled in as the starting nickel cornerback. That may still be the case come September. But based on what reporters saw on the field during Day 1 of camp, Dallas appears willing to deploy Downs all over the defense, not just in the slot.
According to Joseph Hoyt from the Dallas Morning News, Downs did start the practice session at nickel. However, Hoyt offered a revealing observation that caught my attention:
“In the last three plays I have seen, Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs line up near the edge in the box and play deep middle third,” Hoyt wrote on social media. “They wanted a versatile defensive back and they plan to use downs accordingly.”
Safety P. J. Locke exits Cowboys’ first training camp practice with non-contact knee injury – Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News
It appears to not be serious.
OXNARD, Calif. — Cowboys safety P.J. Locke was helped off the field during Wednesday’s training camp practice with a knee injury, a person familiar with the situation told The Dallas Morning News.
Locke limped off the field with roughly half an hour left in the team’s first training camp practice. He was back pedaling during a play and appeared to injure his left knee when he planted on it. It was a non-contact injury. Locke walked alongside Jim Maurer, the team’s head trainer, off the field. He didn’t return.
Tyler Guyton on competition, 2026 challenges: ‘I want to be a better player’ – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
The former first-round pick is ready to take the next step.
OXNARD, Calif. — Tyler Guyton is no stranger to competition. The Austin native has been battling for position ever since he picked up a football as a child, and upwards through his time at TCU and, ultimately, the University of Oklahoma.
He’d weather all of those storms to become a first-round pick for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, and now comes yet another round of competition to test his mettle — from two entirely different directions.
“I mean, it’s the same as every day: coming to work and getting better, to try and get one percent better every day,” Guyton said following the first practice of 2026 training camp.
Outwardly, he’s working to stave off offensive lineman Nate Thomas, but his biggest opponent is himself and his health. If he wins against the latter, Guyton will likely win against the former.
Ability isn’t the question — availability is.
Guyton has shown he can make strides when he’s on the field, but he’s suffered injury in both of his first two seasons that has cost him significant time and, as such, a significant opportunity at gaining experience.
He’s made changes to both his diet and training regimen to improve durability, also noting that he’s “put on “grown man strength” for this coming season while balancing it with being technically sound against literally the most freakishly athletic pass rushers on the planet.
From there, well, here’s how Guyton sees it through his point-of-view:
“I [want to get] more technically sound, more confident in the playbook and the scheme and, overall, just a better player,” he said. “It’s a process, of course, and we have to take it day by day, one foot in front of the other. But, at the end of the day, I’m trying to get to a certain point where I feel good about going to the season.”
Daily discussion question: What was your biggest takeaway from the first practice of camp?
