The Dallas Cowboys have departed Oxnard, traveling to Woodland Hills, Calif., for Tuesday's joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams.
Brian Schottenheimer's squad has likely been itching to hit somebody who doesn't have a star on their helmet, but drawing the Super Bowl-favorite Rams for their first scrimmage of the summer is quite the challenge.
Incredibly, the biggest standout was none other than second-year linebacker Justin Barron, who intercepted three (!!!) passes -- including one off reigning MVP Matthew Stafford -- to go with a couple of run stops (h/t Nick Harris, Star Telegram).
Cowboys LB Justin Barron intercepts three passes in joint practice vs. Rams
Another Justin Barron interception, this time off Stetson Bennett. He’s had multiple stops in the run game and now two picks.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) August 11, 2026
Already having a sneaky good training camp, Barron is actively playing himself onto the 53-man roster. In fact, he may have just gone from the bubble to a near-lock overnight. You can watch Barron intercept Stafford behind this link.
The Cowboys only have three roster locks at linebacker: DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters, your projected starters, and third-round pick Jaishawn Barham.
Second-year pro Shemar James, who started six games as a rookie, isn't far behind, but you haven't exactly felt his presence in camp. He had an interception in team drills this past Sunday, but Barron has made more noise.
If Dallas decides to keep five linebackers, Christian Parker may feel compelled to keep Barron. If James is safe because of his experience (and a lack of alternative options), Barron undoubtedly has the edge for the final spot over Curtis Robinson and Langston Patterson.
Justin Barron deserves to be in the Cowboys' LB rotation
The Cowboys gave their second-team defense a shot against Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams, and Barron answered the call. For someone who shined with the twos and threes in Oxnard, you have to wonder if Barron will get more burn with the starting defense from here on out.
It's one thing to make splash plays. Nobody is calling Barron the second coming of Sean Lee in coverage, but it bodes well that Barron found other ways to contribute against the Rams.
And before you say, 'It's only a joint practice,' we'd argue that a joint practice vs. Sean McVay's superteam tells us a whole lot more than a preseason game where the starters don't even dress.
As the fourth or fifth linebacker on the depth chart, contributing on special teams may determine Barron's fate.
Well, in his only two appearances as a rookie last season, he only saw work on special teams, playing 14 snaps as a blocker on kickoff returns, 11 as a kickoff return gunner, and five as a blocker on punt returns, per Pro Football Focus.
Barron checks the all-important box. If rosters were due tomorrow, he should be on it.
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