FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys report to training camp in Oxnard, California on July 20, and July 22 will be the first time Brian Schottenhiemer and his staff will have a chance to coach their players since mandatory minicamp concluded on June 12.
Right off the bat, there'll be plenty to keep an eye on as the Cowboys get settled on the west coast, from contract situations to important position battles that could shape the 2025 season for Dallas.
Here's five things to keep an eye on in the early goings of Cowboys training camp:
Donovan Ezeiruaku's rookie contract situation
Cowboys rookie second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku is one of 30 other second-round selections that remain unsigned to their rookie contracts as training camp approaches. It's an unprecedented situation that revolves around guaranteed money in the deals, which can be negotiated between players and teams, unlike the actual monetary value of the deal which is already locked in place based on the NFL's CBA.
The first two picks in the second round of 2025's NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns LB Carson Schwesinger and Houston Texans WR Jayden Higgins, were the first two players in NFL history to receive fully-guaranteed deals after being drafted in the second round.
Naturally, the other 30 second round selections are looking to follow in their footsteps, which is causing the holdup as NFL teams are looking to follow the precedent of the past. That includes Ezeiruaku, the promising pass rusher who has shown flashes during the team's offseason programs.
If still unsigned by the time training camp comes around, Ezeiruaku won't be able to participate at all with the Cowboys until a deal is done. Getting as many reps as possible is paramount at this stage of his career, and Ezeiruaku wants to be on the field getting as many as he can.
What will Micah Parsons do?
Speaking of contract situations, Micah Parsons' deal is the central story leading into the Cowboys' departure to Oxnard. Parsons, who is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, has stated that he's "hopeful” a deal can be done before camp, but time is running out before that happens.
If there is no agreement between the Cowboys and Parsons by the team's arrival in California, there's a chance that Parsons could hold out from participating similar to how CeeDee Lamb did a year prior. Parsons told reporters he'll be with the team at training camp, but said "we'll see, time will tell" when asked if he would participate on the practice field.
Parsons has already cemented himself as one of the best pass rushers in the league, but missing reps at training camp could mean a dipping into the season to knock off some rust, similar to how Lamb and Dak Prescott struggled to consistently stay on the same page in the early parts of the 2024 season. It goes without saying that is the opposite of what the Cowboys want, especially going into a 2025 season banged up on the defensive side of the ball and hungry for an improved effort following a 7-10 finish a year ago.
Players on PUP watch
Right before the start of training camp, the Cowboys will have to make their Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and have several key players that could end up there after an injury riddled 2024 season across the board.
The two most notable candidates are DeMarvion Overshown and Trevon Diggs, both of whom suffered respective severe knee injuries in 2024. It's likely that they'll both start training camp on the PUP list, with the bigger question being when they can return from their respective injuries as important defensive contributors.
Other names to keep an eye on are rookie third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr., who suffered a torn ACL during his final year at East Carolina, Josh Butler, John Stephens Jr. and Sam Williams.
It's worth noting that Williams appears to have made significant progress in his recovery from an ACL and MCL tear at training camp last year and worked his way onto the field in individual drills after being a mainstay in the rehab group off to the side for quite some time. Could that mean he's ready to go by the start of camp? It won't be long until we find out.
What does "full go" look like for Dak Prescott
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is a positive on the injury front for Dallas, as he was a full participant in OTAs and minicamp and was able to do more physically than many expected going into it. Last week, he told reporters that he would be a “full go” for training camp in Oxnard.
Final clearance from doctors is still on the horizon, but Prescott feels "as healthy as I'll be" going into his 10 season with the Cowboys. While that is a great sign for Dallas' offense, who struggled without their starter in 2024, Prescott's injury history brings into question whether or not there will be some sort of restriction or limit of sort to ensure Prescott's full health in a crucial 2025 season for him and the franchise.
There didn't seem to be any restrictions during the offseason programs, and very well could not be at all in Oxnard either. That said, Prescott suffering injuries in three of his last five seasons is notable, and something that the Cowboys will have to keep in the back of their minds as he ramps back up to play again.
Early impressions in key position battles
At positions like running back and cornerback, everything is up for grabs and jobs are set to be earned in Oxnard over the course of the preseason. That starts at training camp, and the first few practices will be an early indication of who is rising to the top of those position battles at the offset.
In the corner room, the likely scenario of not having Diggs or Revel on the practice field creates opportunities for guys like Kaiir Elam, Israel Mukuamu, Kemon Hall and others to try and earn at starting role for at least the earlier part of the season.
At running back, as it stands it looks like the Cowboys may take a by-committee approach again in 2025 unless someone rises to the forefront in camp and proves they can be a bell cow. The two most likely candidates for that kind of role would be the veterans that Dallas signed in free agency, Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, who have been lead backs before in their careers.
