Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Guyton walks off the field after a training camp practice on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
OXNARD, Calif. — In the last week the NFC East has gotten a little spicy at the wide receiver position. The Washington Commanders signed Stefon Diggs. And if you want to deeper, the Los Angeles Rams, a Cowboys’ regular-season opponent on Dec. 20, held a tryout with defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who is nearly coming out of retirement.
Of course, if Donald officially signs by the end of the weekend, there’s a chance he could get some snaps against the Cowboys in next Tuesday’s scrimmage. But that’s just asking for too much spice.
While the Cowboys stress that they’ve made moves in the offseason — the Rashan Gary trade, the Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant signings — it’s hard not to notice what’s occurred this week with their opponents’ rosters.
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“Yeah, I think everybody’s in the same mode right now,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “We’re all looking at potential options to add to our roster. We’re certainly doing that. Ton of respect for both those players and I’m not surprised, but we’re actively looking as well.”
If the Cowboys make any moves, it would depend on what they’ve seen in training camp practices, next Tuesday’s scrimmage and the preseason opener at Seattle on August 15.
Last year, the Cowboys signed Jadeveon Clowney 14 days after trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
The Clowney signing was needed because of a weakness in the pass rush due to the Parsons trade. All Clowney did was lead the Cowboys in sacks with 8 ½.
The Cowboys elected not to re-sign Clowney despite his comfort in the 3-4 scheme. So Clowney signed with the Houston Texans, another opponent for the Cowboys on Oct. 4.
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Trading or signing players is a tricky business because of the compensation that’s required in some cases. Trading for Maxx Crosby was deemed too much in terms of compensation for the Cowboys, though team owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he hasn’t closed the door on it.
As of now, the Cowboys like what’s on their 91-man roster and in plenty of ways they can’t worry about what other teams have or don’t have.
“Not at all, to be honest, not really,” right tackle Terence Steele said of paying attention to other team’s moves. “If I’m scrolling on Twitter or something, I’ll see it. I don’t really give it too much thought, to be honest with you. I’m really just focused on what we got going on here, my job, my unit. So I don’t know. We’ll just see when that day comes.”
A Tyler Guyton clarification
Brian Schottenheimer wanted to clarify some comments from earlier in the week that he named Tyler Guyton the starting left tackle.
Schottenheimer said Guyton is in the lead at left tackle and that Nate Thomas needs to do more to overtake him.
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So is there no competition?
“There is when Nate does the things he’s supposed to do to earn those [opportunities],” Schottenheimer said. “Which he’s been great [Wednesday] in the mock and then so far [Thursday].”
Schottenheimer also noted that left guard Tyler Smith is getting some snaps with the first-team at left tackle, during walkthroughs that are conducted before practices.
“He’s doing well,” Schottenheimer said. “I said that Nate Thomas needs to prepare and play a little bit better and more of a consistent starter capability to earn the right to get that chance to compete, to be a starting tackle.”
Practice and injury updates
The defense had a strong practice with interceptions from Caelan Carson and Justin Barron. Curtis Robinson almost had a one-handed interception as well. DaRon Bland had a pass breakup as well.
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There were several sacks, including one from Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Kicker Brandon Aubrey went 6-for-6 on field goals, making kicks from 33, 27, 36, 37, 39 and 42 yards.
Dak Prescott went 19-for-23 on passing, Sam Howell was 4-for-10 with a pick and Joe Milton was also 7-for-11 with an interception.
Rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham left practice with an undisclosed injury.
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Cornerbacks Devin Moore (groin) and Zion Childress (hamstring), defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard (hamstring) and safety Jalen Thompson (hip) missed Thursday’s practice.