We are a week into training camp. So far, the Dallas Cowboys have had five practices, and two of them have been with pads on. Even during this brief window, we have some answers to some of the many questions we had going into camp. Today we’ll explore a few of those answers.
Caleb Downs is a student of the game
This may not come as a surprise but the rookie from Ohio State, who received rave reviews from past coaches including Nick Saban, is as studious and focused as advertised. Typically, rookies have growing pains, and while Downs
hasn’t been perfect, usually the types of mistakes that are endured when bringing a first-year pro along are those that happen when teaching a rookie a pro system and bone-headed errors that usually take weeks to iron out. Yet, Downs has received nothing but rave reviews for his work ethic and focus, particularly from his head coach, Brian Schottenheimer.
As we continue to progress in camp and see some field action in the preseason, Cowboys fans can only be hopeful that Downs is going to be everything they had wished for (if he plays).
The secondary is much improved
The secondary unit was terrible last year. Between the entire secondary, only four interceptions were secured by this position group in 2025. In the offseason, the Cowboys addressed these concerns by bringing in the likes of Cobie Durant and Jalen Thompson and, as mentioned earlier, drafting the highly touted Downs in the first round, along with hiring new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who is also receiving rave reviews from players and coaches alike. Now, as practice gets underway, we’ve gotten a glimpse of this unit in action, and the difference seems to be night and day from last year, both in production on the practice field and in intensity.
Durant, Daron Bland and Shavon Revel have been sticky and have made plays, and they’ll need that, along with the fiery attitudes they’ve shown thus far in practice, to make the leaps necessary to turn this unit into a quality unit in 2026.
Tyler Guyton is the Cowboys’ starting left tackle
Yes, most of us could see right through Schottenheimer’s shrewd motivational tactic when he “opened up” the left tackle position for competition. Even still, given Guyton’s struggles in his first few years, it seemed the competition might be open. Nope, the door was slammed shut on that Tuesday, August 4.
Now, again, there may not have been much of a competition between Guyton and seventh-round pick Nate Thomas. Guyton still had to do enough to secure the nomination from Schottenheimer, which isn’t nothing. The Cowboys have an opportunity to put together what could be a special offensive unit in 2026. Guyton, along with fellow offensive tackle Terence Steele, is one of the linchpins for whether or not GOTI (Greatest Offense There Is) is. Here’s Guyton battling Quinnen Williams to further your optimism
