The 2026 NFL training camps have kicked off around the league, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Dallas Cowboys' camp is taking place in Oxnard, California, and Cowboys reporter Todd Archer has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and, of course, the quarterbacks room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at the Cowboys' camp. We will update this file often. Will Dallas turn around the NFL's worst defense from 2025? Who are the breakout players to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Dive in to all the updates and be sure to check back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins Aug. 13.
Camp updates for all 32 NFL teams
Latest news from Cowboys camp
Cowboys' Dak Prescott not shying away from setting lofty goals
Jones optimistic about Cowboys, likes 'what we put together'
Source: Ex-Cowboys QB Will Grier returns as offensive assistant
Saturday, Aug. 1
The red zone is an area the Cowboys want to see a lot of offensive improvement in in 2026, and Saturday's practice had plenty of work from inside the 20.
Dak Prescott had touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb on the post, two to Ryan Flournoy (dig, slot fade) and a bullet of a throw low to the outside that receiver George Pickens corralled for the score.
There was one interception when a Prescott checkdown was tipped by running back Jaydon Blue into the arms of safety Malik Hooker.
Prescott finished the day unofficially 11-of-18 in team drills.
Last year, the Cowboys converted a touchdown on 37-of-65 red zone drives. So, what makes a good red zone offense?
"Finishing in the end zone, executing when you need to, third downs, sometimes on first (down)," Lamb said. "Just being able to not really bat ourselves in the foot, those self-inflicted wounds or penalties that'll really bring us back or kill our momentum. And again, finishing in the end zone."
GP doin' GP things #CowboysCamp | @AmericanAir pic.twitter.com/XUoaq0xYi9
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 1, 2026
More observations from the day:
It's hard not to notice rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham. He is seeing some work with the first-team defense so far. He is active in the run game, filling holes, but he also showed good feel for zone work, knocking down a Prescott pass near the goal line.
With Jalen Thompson (hip flexor) and P.J. Locke (knee) not practicing, safeties Alijah Clark and Markquese Bell shared the work with the first-team defense.
The catch of the day belonged to undrafted rookie Camden Brown on a fade from Sam Howell. The pass to the back pylon was in a perfect spot and Brown controlled the ball as he was going to the ground.
Brandon Aubrey went 5-for-6 on field goal attempts, missing wide right from 44 yards.
T.J. Bass has yet to play center in a game in his career, but he is currently the backup to Cooper Beebe. So far, no off-kilter shotgun snaps. Bass' versatility is a plus for the offensive line.
Friday, July 31
Tyler Booker knew Cowboys' first-round pick Caleb Downs before any of his teammates. They were together for a year at Alabama before Downs transferred to Ohio State following the retirement of Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. Downs quickly earned rave reviews at Alabama, earning a starting spot as a true freshman during spring practice.
Now four years later, Booker, the Cowboys' top pick in 2025, sees similarities in Downs' assimilation to the Cowboys.
"Same guy. And that's not to say that he hasn't grown since I knew him as a freshman at Alabama," Booker said. "It just shows you how much of a grown man he was at Alabama. Not many guys start during spring ball, let alone in that secondary coached by Coach Saban. So first and foremost see him out there starting at that secondary during spring ball, and then to see how he played and raised the level of play to everybody else on that side of the ball at Alabama, I just knew he was special. I was very upset losing him after Coach Saban retired, but I'm just very glad he's my teammate again here in Dallas."
Thursday, July 30
With DeMarvion Overshown playing middle linebacker and serving as the "green dot," making the calls from the coach to the defense for the first time, the Cowboys want to make sure they expose him to everything, even early in training camp.
At one point in practice, defensive coordinator Christian Parker acted like the coach-to-player communication system went out to see how Overshown would react.
"It didn't go out. We had kind of talked about it and scripted it and Demo got to the exact call that he was supposed to, which is what you expect," coach Brian Schottenheimer said. "So it was not a malfunction of the headset. It was something scripted and Demo was outstanding getting us lined up into the call that we wanted to be in."
Wednesday, July 29
After putting up 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, all career highs, in 2025, George Pickens has set a high bar in 2026 as he is set to play the year on the $27.3 million franchise tag. Coach Brian Schottenheimer made mention a couple of times last year of Pickens' tardiness, so it means something when he references Pickens' early off-field work to open training camp.
"He was as dialed in in meetings as I've seen him since he's been here, just following along, questions," Schottenheimer said. "I think you're going to see a very motivated George Pickens going into the season. And I think that's great news for us and maybe bad news for the rest of the league."
Tuesday, July 28
awesome offseason ✅#CowboysCamp | @AmericanAir pic.twitter.com/SaCstNxPSV
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) July 28, 2026
For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys open camp with a fully healthy roster and won't have players working off to the side rehabbing from offseason surgeries or injuries.
The Cowboys will not have a player on the physically unable to perform or non-football injury lists. While players such as cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) and edge player Donovan Ezeiruaku (hip) are cleared for practice, coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team will monitor the status of each, especially early in camp after they spent most of the offseason in rehab.
"We're very, very healthy going to the camp and hope that that continues," Schottenheimer said.