And just like that, training camp is underway in Oxnard. The Dallas Cowboys are still ramping up before the pads come on, but there was plenty to glean from Wednesday's opening practice.
Jaydon Blue took his first carry 45 yards to the house, while Donovan Ezeiruaku was a nuisance rushing off the edge, and Rashan Gary set the tone with a forced fumble that Caleb Downs recovered. And those were only a few of the highlights from an eventful first day of camp.
Though it was a light practice, the Cowboys still ran through team drills. Christian Parker's starting defense offered the first real glimpse at just how dramatically the personnel has changed since this time last year.
New faces include the aforementioned Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, who was still a New York Jet last summer, DeMarvion Overshown, who was still recovering from knee surgery, Dee Winters, Caleb Downs, Cobie Durant, and Jalen Thompson.
The Dallas Cowboys' first-team defense is night and day compared to 2025
Here's how Parker's unit lined up for the first team drill, via Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Rashan Gary | OLB |
Kenny Clark | DT |
Quinnen Williams | DT |
Donovan Ezeiruaku | OLB |
DeMarvion Overshown | ILB |
Dee Winters | ILB |
DaRon Bland | CB |
Caleb Downs | Nickel |
Cobie Durant | CB |
Malik Hooker | S |
Jalen Thompson | S |
That 11 certainly is not without question marks, and improvement on paper obviously doesn't guarantee that Dallas' defense will suddenly be a top-10 unit. Having said that, you have to acknowledge how unrecognizable the personnel is compared to last season.
As we noted, Quinnen Williams was still in Florham Park, and DeMarvion Overshown was still working his way back from knee surgery. The only returning starters are Kenny Clark, DaRon Bland, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Malik Hooker.
The Cowboys swapped out Osa Odighizuwa for Williams. Odighizuwa was a very good Cowboy, but that's a clear upgrade. They replaced Kenneth Murray with Dee Winters. Murray was one of the worst linebackers in the NFL last season, and yet played the second-most snaps of any defender, per PFF.
The only player who logged more snaps was Donovan Wilson, who was a disaster in 2025 and has been replaced by the versatile and ever-consistent Jalen Thompson.
The Cowboys only have four returning starters from Week 1 of last season
You may have forgotten because he got waived in the middle of the season, but Kaiir Elam started seven games on the outside. Similarly, Trevon Diggs made six starts before Dallas cut him loose. Reddy Steward, a former Bears castoff, played the most snaps of any defender in the nickel.
Dallas casually replaced them with Caleb Downs, who started in the nickel on Wednesday, and Cobie Durant, who started opposite DaRon Bland on the outside.
Addition by subtraction is a real thing. The Cowboys got better the second they moved on from Diggs, Elam, Murray, and Wilson. The fact that they replaced them with a combination of proven veterans and a rookie with All-Pro upside completely changes the complexion of the defense.
That's not to say there won't be a learning curve to Parker's scheme, or that more upgrades shouldn't be made, but the talent level is miles apart from last year.
Add us as a preferred source on Google