The Dallas Cowboys returned to the practice field this week for organized team activities and the excitement surrounding the team is palpable with veteran acquisitions Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore in attendance and taking their first official practice reps with the team.
Though training camp is still two months away, OTAs present a great opportunity for players to leave a lasting impression on the coaching staff.
While the Cowboys are still in the early stages of building toward the new campaign and a lot can change between now and late July, these players arrived at The Star in Frisco with something to prove and have showed out so far.
4. Michael Gallup
Gallup is a veteran so his inclusion comes with an asterisk.
That said, fans are searching for any reason to jump back on the Gallup train after his poor 2022 following ACL surgery. Gallup has been adamant that he's fully healthy (and confident) for the first time in two years and the early returns at OTAs back that up.
According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Gallup caught passes on consecutive plays during the team's two-minute 7-on-7 drill. Gehlken added Gallup is moving comfortably and that he would've had a touchdown if not for Stephon Gilmore getting a hand on the pass in the end zone.
That's Gilmore in a nutshell, but Cowboys fans have to love hearing Gallup is back clicking on all cylinders. Two catches might not seem like much -- it could have been more; these were the only catches that were reported on social media -- but the big takeaway is Gallup looking more like his pre-injury self.
3. KaVontae Turpin
The NFL is moving toward eliminating kickoffs after they approved fair catches on kickoffs to be spotted at the receiving team's 25-yard line, but you wouldn't know it based on Turpin's performance. For starters, he's been the only player taking return reps, which suggests he doesn't have any competition for that role.
More noteworthy, though, is the fact Turpin has seen extensive reps with the first-team offense. It's important to note the WR room is fully healthy unlike last offseason when CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup were banged up.
Cowboys fans banged the proverbial table for Turpin to get more looks on offense. While their wishes went unfulfilled in 2022, perhaps Mike McCarthy envisions a role as a gadget player of sorts for the former undrafted free agent. That would add another dimension to an already star-studded offense.
We'll see if it carries over into mandatory minicamp, training camp and ultimately the regular season, but it's something to watch for sure.
2. Kelvin Joseph
We're just as surprised as you. Seemingly on the roster bubble and on his final chance to prove himself to the Cowboys coaching staff, Joseph clearly entered organized team activities with a chip on his shoulder.
Joseph spent the first two years as an outside corner. Poor play last season restricted him to a special teams player. To start OTAs, Joseph has worked with the safeties, but saw most of his reps as a nickel cornerback, which he hasn't played since high school.
Though raw at the position, Joseph logged an impressive pass breakup during 7-on-7 drills. He would've blown up a short pass on the very next play, but Mike McCarthy has deemphasized contact this year.
It's extremely early in the process -- truly as early as can be -- but Joseph's performance has been a pleasant surprise. Consistency has always been the question with the 2021 second-round pick, but the first few practices have shown he has the physical tools to be a serviceable nickel corner.
1. Deuce Vaughn
Vaughn made the highlight of Thursday's practice when he caught a 45-yard pass from third-string quarterback Will Grier during 7-on-7 drills. The pass was underthrown, but Vaughn showed great instincts and ball skills to track the ball and come back to make the sliding grab.
It stands to reason that the pass might have been intercepted or batted away if Mike McCarthy allowed more contact -- the head coach was fined each of the previous two years for having too much contact at OTAs -- but that takes nothing away from Vaughn.
Vaughn's receiving ability is part of what attracted the Cowboys to him. While folks grew accustomed to Vaughn catching shorter passes at Kansas State and making defenders miss after the catch, the coaching staff will love knowing the rookie sixth-round pick can make plays downfield.
This surely won't be the first time Vaughn impresses during the offseason program. He had a knack with the Wildcats for making explosive plays out of nothing. He figures to be a regular on the offseason highlight reel.