Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) makes a touchdown catch as defensive back Shavon Revel (28) defends during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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OXNARD, Calif. — Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens believes second-year cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. has an attribute that a good defensive back needs. He said Revel can wipe his memory, quickly, and move on to the next play, regardless of what happened before.
How can Pickens tell that? From firsthand experience, as Saturday showed.
Pickens and Revel both got the best of each other on Saturday in what’s been the better battles of training camp. Pickens snagged a touchdown pass away from Revel’s grasp on one red-zone play. Minutes later, Revel dove in front of a Dak Prescott pass intended for Pickens in the back of the end zone.
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Revel looked visibly frustrated after Pickens’ touchdown catch, and understandably so. Pickens, with his contested catch ability, can have that effect on opposing corners. But Revel’s ability to bounce back, as he’s done other times during camp, was impressive.
“I feel like quarterbacks have to have that mentality,” Pickens said of the amnesia that Revel showed, “but definitely from the defensive backs’ [perspective]. It’s definitely something they should always have.
“Revel definitely has the good mindset of the next play, next play mentality.”
Pickens also believes Revel has the ability, too. The Cowboys coaches have praised Revel’s man-cover ability, citing his wingspan that ranks him 94th among drafted cornerbacks since 2011, according to Mockdraftable.com. That’s been on display against Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, arguably the top receiving duo in the NFL.
“Super, super physical,” Pickens said.
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“I feel like him being that physical at the line of scrimmage can definitely deter a lot of receivers in the league.”
Good news on the injury front
Cowboys rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham suffered a groin injury and left Thursday’s practice, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer said there’s no cause for concern. He missed Saturday’s practice but was seen jogging around and working on the side with team trainers. Fourth-round corner Devin Moore and defensive end Jonathan Bullard also missed practice with groin injuries, while starting safety Malik Hooker missed practice with an excused absence.
Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson, their big free agent signing, returned to practice on Saturday after missing multiple practices with a hip injury. He didn’t return to team drills, however.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb signs autographs following a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive back Jalen Thompson takes the field for a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb has his fingers and wrists taped during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens adjusts his helmet during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys running back Israel Abanikanda (30) makes a catch as quarterback Dak Prescott (4) looks on during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) talks with head coach Brian Schottenheimer during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) talks with Sam Howell (16) during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys tight end DJ Rogers (49) has a pass go off his hands during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) shadow boxes with Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Junior Adams during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson catches a pass from behind the goal posts in a drill during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson walks between drills during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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A pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Sam Howell (16) hits the target in a drill during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive back Josh Butler (31) breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive back Josh Butler (31) breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah (37) cuts through defensive backs Markquese Bell (14) and Daron Bland (26) during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (0) works against offensive lineman Tyler Smith (73) as running back Jaydon Blue (23) carries the ball during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer shouts to his players as they run a drill during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) celebrates with offensive lineman Tyler Guyton (60) after scoring a touchdown during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive back Shavon Revel (28) breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver George Pickens (3) during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive back Shavon Revel (28) celebrates with linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (0) after breaking up a pass during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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A whistle hangs around the neck of Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates with wide receiver George Pickens (3) after the two connected on a touchdown pass during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive back Markquese Bell (14) breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) in the end zone during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia (91) knocks down a pass by quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Kenny Clark reacts to a play during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford runs a drill during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Guyton (60) runs with teammates during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys helmets fill a rack following a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys linebacker James Houston works against a goalpost following a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive back Josh Butler tries to move a cucumber slice from his eye to his mouth as he plays a game for a social media video following a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Blocking dummies rest on a field following a Dallas Cowboys training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) walks off the field arm in arm with wide receivers coach Junior Adams during a training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif.
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Notable
— The Cowboys did a lot of shuffling with their starting units on Saturday. That was true for both offense and defense. With Barham out, second-year linebacker Shemar James got a lot of work with the starting defense next to DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters. Overshown and Winters also played next to each other with the starting unit.
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— The Cowboys shuffled in T.J. Bass at starting right guard in place of Pro Bowler Tyler Smith on Saturday. At the end of practice, when the team was running during conditioning, Smith was seen doing another workout with team trainers.
— Cowboys safety Caleb Downs had the best play of his first training camp. He was guarding Lamb one-on-one in the red zone. Lamb tried to get space, but couldn’t. Still, Prescott threw a pass that hit Lamb in the hands. It looked like it would be a touchdown, but Downs didn’t give up and broke up the pass through Lamb’s hands. Lamb earlier had a touchdown catch, however.
— Josh Butler, slot corner Derion Kendrick and safety Markquese Bell all had pass breakups.
— Undrafted wide receiver Camden Brown and tight end D.J. Rogers both had touchdown catches working with the backups in the red zone.
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— The Cowboys think fourth-round offensive tackle Drew Shelton can be a swing tackle for them this year. Could he be more, though? He worked in with the starters as an extra offensive lineman at times.
— Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson continues to play well. He had a touchdown catch on a double-move concept to beat Winters in coverage.
— Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker had multiple drops today. He’s got some competition from Michael Trigg and Rogers, two undrafted free agents.
— Winters and defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia both had batted balls at the line of scrimmage. Winters’ batted pass was nearly intercepted by James Houston, but he couldn’t locate it in time.
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— Practice was in shells instead of full pads.