The Dallas Cowboys hosted an open-to-the-public training camp at The Star in Frisco on Aug. 19, 2025, with players and fans filling the public slate. Dak Prescott sparked the energy, exchanging cheers with the crowd as he led a fast-paced session and signaled strong health entering the season. CeeDee Lamb was a constant highlight, catching passes and feeding the energy to the fan zone. The quarterbacks room featured Will Grier and Joe Milton III rotating reps behind Prescott, giving the offense a sense of competition and depth. Coach Brian Schottenheimer directed the action on the field, while receivers and tight ends flashed hands in multiple drills. Autograph lines clogged the fence as fans chased Dak and Lamb after practice, underscoring the star power shaping this camp.

Defensively, Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs stood out in drills and scrimmage situations, anchoring an aggressive unit that showed depth with Damone Clark and Malik Hooker manning the back end. Luke Schoonmaker and John Stephens Jr. worked the tight end corps, collecting passes and aligning with the run game. Jaydon Blue and KaVontae Turpin rotated into various drills, showcasing flexibility and special-teams upside. The scene also featured Traeshon Holden mingling for autographs, while George Pickens appeared in a captioned moment with Lamb, highlighting the cross-team chatter fans often relish. The camp day offered a practical read for fantasy managers: Prescott’s health remains the baseline, Lamb is the premier receiver, and Milton III/Grier could influence how targets distribute beyond the obvious stars.

Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer is raising the bar on physicality, preaching an ass-kicker mindset for the next two padded practices as they prepare for the season opener. The vibe is intense from the get-go: fighters in practice, pad level under scrutiny, and a clear message that every rep matters. The club showed flashes of a hard-nosed identity during camp, but it was tested in joint sessions with the Rams and in a rocky preseason loss to the Ravens, signaling a need to sharpen tackling and consistency.

Two themes drive the fantasy lens: first, the Cowboys want a more aggressive, physically dominant culture that could shift snap counts and drive success in gritty games. Second, the competition for roster spots has heightened the urgency, with early returns suggesting some surprise players could surface as Schottenheimer’s program takes hold. Expect more forceful run fits and tighter coverage, which could elevate short-area targets and defensive opportunism in the early slate.

In short, Dallas is chasing a tougher, more physical identity that, if sustained, could elevate fantasy relevance for tight ends and defensive-scheme players while pressuring the offense to punch through with better pad level and tackling—especially as they head toward Philadelphia.

The Dallas Cowboys’ tight end picture gets a subtle nudge in the latest practice notes as Luke Schoonmaker left for the locker room with the medical staff, leaving questions about his readiness for a pivotal third season. Schoonmaker has logged 35 catches for 306 yards and three touchdowns since being drafted in 2023, but he’s only a secondary piece behind Jake Ferguson, who inked a four-year, $52 million extension in July. Ferguson’s new deal cements him as the top TE in Dallas’ offense, while Schoonmaker competes for snaps and targets in a receiver-rich offense.

The Cowboys are back in Frisco after a month in California, with one more preseason game vs. Atlanta before opening the season vs. the defending champs, Philadelphia. The narrative around the Cowboys’ tight end room — Ferguson as the starter and Schoonmaker aiming to grow into a real threat — will influence fantasy value and roster decisions as Dallas arrives at Week 1. Expect a steady, committee-driven approach until clear roles emerge in the regular season.

For fantasy managers, this is a reminder to watch for volume shifts in the Cowboy tight end corps. Ferguson’s workload will likely remain prominent given the extension, while Schoonmaker’s health and development could tip the balance in a hurry if he’s limited or returns with upside in the passing game. The preseason finale against the Falcons could be telling as Dallas tests formations and target distribution ahead of Week 1.

Jaydon Blue envisions his NFL debut as he returns from an ankle injury, and the Cowboys are letting the rookie ramp up for a preseason showdown with the Falcons. He’s been visualizing the moment on the sideline, and with full-pads practice this week, Dallas CBT staff have grown more confident he’ll play Friday. Blue was already getting first-team reps before his injury, a sign the coaching staff believes he can contribute once healthy.

Dallas’ backfield is crowded and rotating, with Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis handling the bulk of carries in the early games. Blue is eager to show what he can do in game action, insisting there are no limitations. His return could add another dynamic element to an already-competitive room, especially if he earns a role on early downs or as a pass-catching option in the screen game.

Overall, the plan is to evaluate his ceiling in the preseason finale while maintaining caution around workload. A productive showing could accelerate a path to meaningful snaps, but the logjam at running back will require consistent and standout play from Blue to unlock a regular-season role.

Dallas Cowboys padded practice reveals a brutal audition for nearly two dozen roster spots as competition heats up for the final preseason week. Jerry Jones framed the scene as young players showing they belong, with about 20 jockeying for jobs in the coming days before Friday’s Cowboys-Falcons tilt.

Health is a concern: at least 13 players were sidelined or limited, and Micah Parsons sat through portions in a hold-in stance while Earnest Brown IV joined the casualty list with a right-leg issue, intensifying the depth questions on both edges and the rotation ahead of Week 1 fantasy implications.

For fantasy managers, the practice trenches are where value can appear. The depth players stepping up in padded drills and the injury reshuffles could unlock sleeper targets on defense and in the Cowboys’ surrounding units. Track practice reports closely for punt- and kick-coverage, pass rush, and rotational snaps that could carve out real-season roles, especially if Parsons’ workload remains managed into the opener.