Dak Prescott Hits Three TDs in Joint Practice at Cowboys Training Camp

Dak Prescott completed 20 of 25 passes during a joint practice session against the New Orleans Saints at Cowboys training camp.

Dak Prescott completed 20 of 25 passes during an unofficial tally of the Dallas Cowboys' first-team offense against the New Orleans Saints' defense on August 18. The session featured touchdown passes to tight end Jake Ferguson on a shovel pass, a slant to George Pickens, and a post route caught by Ryan Flournoy. Despite the scoring, Prescott threw one interception to safety Julian Blackmon on a crossing route intended for CeeDee Lamb. The practice was marked by physical altercations, including a shoving match on the opening play and a full fight on the fifth snap between first-team units.

George Pickens has emerged as the top performer at Cowboys training camp, making significant plays in every practice session while playing on a $27.3 million franchise tag. Pickens and Prescott are building on a 2025 season where the receiver set career highs in catches, yards, and touchdowns. During the August 18 session, Pickens drew loud cheers for a deep sideline completion but was later flagged for a celebration penalty after flipping the ball toward Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Roster Battles and Offensive Line Consistency

Right tackle Terence Steele, entering his seventh NFL season, is under scrutiny for consistency. Coach Brian Schottenheimer noted that Steele has been "getting edged a little bit" due to dropping his pads. Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams highlighted that Steele has played 2,333 out of 2,357 possible snaps over the last two years. The team is exploring if reduced workloads will help the veteran maintain his form. Meanwhile, the competition at left tackle between Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas has stalled because Guyton’s performance has solidified his standing. Guyton previously faced Myles Garrett in his first NFL start, a matchup Schottenheimer praised.

In the backup quarterback race, Joe Milton III and Sam Howell are alternating second-team reps. Milton, who appeared in four games last year completing 15 of 24 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, claims he now knows nearly the entire playbook. Howell joined the team on a one-year deal with $2.5 million guaranteed after starting 18 games for the Washington Commanders in 2023. The Cowboys do not plan to play their starters during the preseason games, leaving the bulk of the snaps to these two signal-callers.

Defensive Highlights and Injury Updates

Linebacker Justin Barron recorded three interceptions in a single day, including a pick on the final play of a two-minute drive against Stetson Bennett IV. New addition Quinnen Williams, who recently signed a three-year, $105.9 million contract extension, recorded multiple tackles for loss during drills against the Los Angeles Rams. On the perimeter, Shavon Revel Jr. broke up a deep pass from Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua, while DaRon Bland deflected a fade intended for Davante Adams.

Injury concerns have impacted the backfield and secondary. Running back Jaydon Blue missed team snaps on August 17 due to a shoulder injury, though he participated in individual drills. Phil Mafah is dealing with a chest injury and did not record a carry in recent sessions, leaving Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, and Israel Abinkanda to handle the bulk of the workload. Safety Jalen Thompson returned to 11-on-11 work on August 9 following a hip injury.

Practice Logistics and Special Guests

Training camp in Oxnard included a 75-minute session on August 17 where starters received 30 reps compared to just 12 for backups. Tight end Jake Ferguson emphasized that joint practices against the Rams and Saints serve as the primary evaluation tool since starters will be sidelined for all three preseason games. The team also hosted actor Dustin Hoffman on August 13, an event Jerry Jones marked by referencing the film "The Graduate."

Defensively, the Cowboys are working to improve upon the league's worst ranked unit from 2025. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown noted the defense showed significant progress during joint work compared to the previous year's performance against the Rams. The unit also saw interceptions from Markquese Bell, P.J. Locke, and Shemar James during a high-intensity practice on August 9, where Prescott finished 11-of-24 with several passes knocked down by Dee Winters and Caleb Downs.