OXNARD, Calif. (KLTV) – Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer has announced six offensive players, four defensive players and a punter for the Leadership Council in 2026.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, running back Javonte Williams, tight end Jake Ferguson, left guard Tyler Smith, right guard Tyler Booker, defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, outside linebacker Rashan Gary, safety Jalen Thompson and punter Bryan Anger make up the council.
“So it could have been 15 names, but I had to cap it somewhere. And I felt that these guys were the perfect fit,” Schottenheimer said. “It’s their council. It’s not mine. They run it. And, you know, we’ve got a few of those guys that report to me every couple of weeks with issues and problems and things that we’ll try to address.”
The council can be a liaison between players and coaches, and members are expected to motivate or resolve issues among teammates.
Schottenheimer said he dove into sports science this offseason to help with the team’s conditioning.
“I’m really excited about doing some sports science stuff. We’re going to condition these guys during the ramp-up period. I think it’s important to build the engine of these guys when they’re fatigued,” Schottenheimer said. “We’re going to condition. It’s well planned out. And, again, the numbers are showing you. Hey, let’s get these guys in tip-top shape. Why? The best teams in the league are the best conditioned teams, and we want to be able to, you know, outlast everybody.”
The team hit the field for the first time on Wednesday. After stretching and going through individual drills, the offense and defense started going at it.
CeeDee Lamb dropped an early pass from Dak Prescott, but that was one of the few mistakes from the offense. Running back Jaydon Blue broke some big runs along with Phil Mafa, and the defense, which has been talked about at length this offseason, showed up at times. The defense forced a fumble on a run and rookie Caleb Downs recovered the loose ball.
The Cowboys need to stay healthy this season to have a chance to compete for a Super Bowl. Safety P.J. Locke appeared to sustain an injury late in Wednesday’s practice. He walked to the sideline under his own power, and after a short stint he was helped back to the locker room.
The Cowboys return to the field on Thursday for practice.
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