Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer runs with his players during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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OXNARD, Calif. — Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer sounded like someone who liked a lot of what he saw in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. There was one department he didn’t like, however.
“We had a long special teams meeting today,” Schottenheimer said. “It’s going to be a big part of our emphasis because it wasn’t good enough.”
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dee Winters works against a blocking dummy during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford has a pass go off his helmet during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin hugs quarterback Dak Prescott following a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Kavontae Turpin (9) makes a long catch for a touchdown as defensive back Cobie Durant (2) and defensive back Jalen Thompson (34) defend during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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A young fan holds a hand-crafted poster while watching from the sidelines during a Dallas Cowboys training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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A pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hits a target in a throwing drill during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive back P.J. Locke breaks up a pass intended for tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford (89) during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis (20) carries the ball during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb’s cleats are seen as he participates in a drill during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Camden Brown catches a ball from a machine during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rashan Gary slaps hands with fans as he takes the field for a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer slaps hands with wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) as he stretches during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens works with Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Junior Adams during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Camden Brown takes a photo with fans as he signs autographs following a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive back Caleb Downs stretches with teammates during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) reacts as he signs autographs alongside wide receiver George Pickens following a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys linebackers Malachi Lawrence (57), Marist Liufau (center) and Isaiah Land (58) huddle with teammates during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rashan Gary signs autographs following a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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The Seahawks had two punt returns for 70 yards, including a 52-yard punt return from Rashad Rochelle that could’ve been a touchdown if it wasn’t for Jonathan Mingo impressively chasing Rochelle down from behind. The Cowboys also had a muffed punt from wide receiver Traeshon Holden, who was released on Monday to make room for newly signed veteran Von Miller.
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“Not good enough,” Schottenheimer said about special teams. “Addressed that today with the guys. It’s not the standard. We know that, but it’s also preseason game one. Our mantra is get back to basics. You got to pay more attention to detail. Very, very disappointed in how we lost contain. Very disappointed in how we gave up kickside leverage.
“And then we did a terrible job of communicating non-verbally on the coverage teams … Didn’t do a good enough job of that.”
The Cowboys finished 14th in special teams DVOA last year, according to FTN Fantasy. Still, the Cowboys wanted to improve their special teams heading into the second season under special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen.
Schottenheimer made sure to closely watch special teams work Monday. Improving there will clearly be an emphasis.
The Cowboys would also like to be better on penalties. They had 13 of them for 103 yards, including pass interferences from Marist Liufau and Caelen Carson, as well as a defensive holding from Carson. It could be a coincidence, but the Cowboys had their defensive backs doing a drill on Monday where they practiced coverage with their hands in mitts so that they couldn’t grab.
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We’ll see if the penalties and special teams work will improve this coming weekend in Arizona.
Always Reddy
Schottenheimer couldn’t help himself. He was talking about the performance of defensive back Reddy Steward, who is trying to make the team for the second year in a row with the Cowboys. Schottenheimer paused midway through an answer about him.
“Reddy,” he said as a smile formed, “he’s always ready to play. He does everything right.”
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Watch Cowboys practice closely and you’ll notice that Steward, playing safety and nickel for the Cowboys, is an active participant even when he’s not on the field. He’ll watch every play he’s not on the field from far down the sideline — usually steps away from defensive coordinator Christian Parker. He’ll get in a stance and backpedal at the snap of the ball, just as he would if he were on the field. He’ll also make hand gestures like he would if he was signaling a change or another communication in coverage. Sometimes, he’ll even actually verbalize those checks and changes to other players on the sideline.
“It helps a lot,” Steward said. “When you see [Jalen Thompson] out there, I’m just mimicking him and stuff like that. He helps me with the plays because I just learned safety and really learning it fast.”
Practicing communication, in a secondary that has to communicate a lot, has also helped him get ready to play.
“It helps my mental,” he said. “Now when I’m getting those reps on the field it helps put me in a place where I need to be.”
Steward was one of the players that Schottenheimer praised after Saturday’s preseason win over Seattle. Steward finished with three tackles and half a sack.
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“Number one, played terrific,” Schottenheimer said. “Really was proud of him.
“His motor, his effort, his communication skills, he played really well.”
He was prepared to do just that.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) makes a one-handed catch in the end zone as defensive back Shavon Revel (28) defends during a training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Notable
– Cowboys rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham returned to the field after suffering a groin injury last week. He also returned to the starting lineup, where he rotated in with DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters. Fellow rookie corner Devin Moore also returned to practice, as well as defensive back Zion Childress.
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– Rookie tight end Michael Trigg (toe) and defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard (hamstring) missed practice.
– George Pickens vs. Shavon Revel continues to be a fun matchup. Pickens got the best of Revel on Monday, but not by a big margin. Pickens had a contested catch that Revel also had his hands on. Later, Pickens ended practice with a one-handed touchdown grab in the corner against Revel. Some Cowboys defensive coaches thought there was no way Pickens got his feet in bounds, but video showed that he did.
– The Cowboys made some changes to their backup offensive line. Rookie Drew Shelton moved to left tackle, swapping places with Nate Thomas, who played at right tackle. The Cowboys also elevated Nick Leverett to second-team center and moved T.J. Bass back to guard, where he’s made multiple starts in his career. Ajani Cornelius went from second-team guard to third-team guard. We’ll see if those changes stick.
– Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a deep touchdown connection to KaVontae Turpin.
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– The Cowboys will practice against the Saints in a joint practice Tuesday, but there should be fewer team snaps than what they had against the Rams the previous week. The Saints also have a joint practice later this week before playing their second preseason game.