If you're still living on cloud nine following April's draft, come on back down to earth. The rumors are true: Caleb Downs is a Dallas Cowboy, and he's not going anywhere.
Other than George Pickens, no Cowboys player entered training camp with a bigger spotlight on them than Downs. The drumbeat surrounding Dallas' star rookie has been impossible to ignore: He might already be the most important player on Christian Parker's defense, not because of his performance, which has been strong, but because of everything Parker's asking him to do.
Downs is making a nuisance of himself both before and after the whistle. After an incompletion on Saturday, he knocked the ball out of Brevyn Spann-Ford's hands instead of letting him hand it back to the official. Spann-Ford didn't appreciate it and shoved the rookie.
You can watch the dustup behind this link (h/t Mike Leslie, WFAA in Dallas).
Caleb Downs ignited the Dallas Cowboys' first skirmish of training camp
That is exactly what you want to see from Downs. He's sending a clear message that nothing is going to come easy. He wants the ball at all times. Was knocking the ball loose after the play unnecessary? Sure, but it didn't cross the line. He's trying to get under the offense's skin, and that's a good thing.
Why? Because the offense has been humming early in camp, particularly the trio of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Prescott, especially, has been on fire, rarely misfiring while accounting for several touchdowns in team drills. Downs is trying to disrupt their rhythm by any means necessary.
If this doesn't fire you up, what will? Less than a week into his first NFL training camp, Downs is already challenging veterans.
Never mind that Spann-Ford stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 270 pounds. Downs, listed at 6-foot and 205 pounds, didn't care one bit. That fearless edge is one of the many reasons the Cowboys were ecstatic to land him in April.
Caleb Downs is doing more than just annoying Brevyn Spann-Ford
As encouraging as it is to see Downs push the offense's buttons, he's also been as advertised before the whistle.
The No. 11 overall pick showed off his IQ in Saturday's practice. Playing the nickel, Downs jammed Luke Schoonmaker before recovering to cover CeeDee Lamb over the middle. He didn't break in time to deflect the pass (someone else took care of that), but he was there to bring Lamb down had he reeled it in. He's largely held his own in the slot against Lamb, even if he's been grabby at the top of routes.
Downs isn't going to be perfect, but you've felt his presence in every single practice thus far. He's a ton-setter, and his dustup with Schoonmaker proves that.
You never want to see camp skirmishes get out of control. But a little pushing and shoving never hurt anybody. You almost want to see the offense and defense get into it during team drills. The best defenses usually have a little edge and swagger, and Downs appears intent on bringing exactly that on top of everything else he brings to the table.
Add us as a preferred source on Google