Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (92) steps through the pads as he leads the teammates during Organized Team Activities at The Star in Frisco, Texas, June 4, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
FRISCO — The Cowboys are in the middle of their organized team activities, and of course it’s voluntary.
No pads and physical contact is limited. That doesn’t stop teams from getting work done.
After watching OTA practice on Thursday and talking to the participants, here are 10 things we learned:
Article continues below this ad
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Shemar James (50) catches a pass during Organized Team Activity drills at The Star in Frisco, Texas, June 4, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
The middle linebackers
At this stage of the offseason, it’s difficult to read what anything means when seeing players at certain positions or where they sit on the depth chart.
The Cowboys are looking for a middle linebacker. It’s not so much finding one in free agency or in the NFL draft, where the team couldn’t secure one, but what it looks like on the current roster.
During Thursday’s practice, Curtis Robinson and Shemar James were getting snaps at middle linebacker. What was interesting for both players is that Robinson is listed as an outside linebacker. James was paired with Dee Winters during team drills.
Article continues below this ad
Winters, acquired in a trade, played off-the-ball linebacker with the 49ers and was supposed to get middle linebacker snaps. That still may be the case, but with the media watching, it was James getting the calls.
Changing the offseason schedule
When the Cowboys began their voluntary offseason program this spring, coach Brian Schottenheimer decided to shorten it by a week.
Normally the offseason program is nine weeks, but it’s eight weeks this year.
The offseason program takes place in three phases, and the first phase typically starts during the NFL draft process. Schottenheimer moved that back a week. In the past, rookies would join the veterans in the offseason program during phase two.
Article continues below this ad
Schottenheimer didn’t want his coaches to be distracted with preparing for the draft and getting with veterans at the same time.
One of the biggest differences in the lost week is the review days. The Cowboys previously would have nine install practices then three review days during OTAs. The lost week eliminated the review days. So instead of a review day, the Cowboys conduct phase two of the offseason program for a day, which consists of individual drills and walkthrough sessions.
“Some of the young players are spinning a little bit, it’s moving fast for them,” Schottenheimer said. “We don’t set the installation to [the rookies]; we set it to the veterans.”
Ezeiruaku’s health and weight
Linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku is getting limited time in the offseason program because of hip surgery. Ezeiruaku dealt with the injury during the season and didn’t miss any games.
Article continues below this ad
Ezeiruaku said he expects to be ready when training camp starts in July.
“Timeline, still taking it day by day,” he said. “Obviously, I’m getting involved with, I’m doing some drill work, I’m still working with our rehab specialist Britt [Brown] and like I said, day by day. I think by the time camp comes I’ll be good to go.”
With Ezeiruaku changing positions, moving from defensive end to outside linebacker, he bulked up a little bit. Last season, Ezeiruaku said he was around 247 to 250 pounds, but he’s getting to 255.
During the offseason, he said he can’t tell the difference in the weight, yet.
“As you get older, you kind of get used to the weight,” Ezeiruaku said. “So the body starts to get used to it. I think now, I feel like I’m more explosive, especially after the surgery and all that and all the work that I’ve been doing.”
Article continues below this ad
The last roster spot
The Cowboys currently have 89 players on their 90-man roster. When training camp starts in July, the team will bring 91 players to Oxnard.
Dallas will get an exemption for defensive end Adedayo Odeleye, who is part of the NFL International Player Pathway program.
Odeleye, born in Lagos, Nigeria, moved to the United Kingdom when he was a child. He played football at Loughborough in England.
So that leaves one spot on the roster and that could go to a free agent.
Article continues below this ad
In early May, the Cowboys held a visit with cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, a nine-year veteran who has played with three teams during his career, including two NFC East teams (Philadelphia and the New York Giants).
The possibility of signing Jackson remains open as the Cowboys continue with their offseason.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel (28) covers fellow corner Caelen Carson (21) during Organized Team Activity drill at The Star in Frisco, Texas, June 4, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
The cornerback position battle
It’s assumed Cobie Durant, Caelen Carson, DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel and Devin Moore will make the 53-man roster from the cornerback position.
Last season, the Cowboys had six corners on the roster when the season ended with Bland, a starter, on injured reserve after foot surgery.
Will the Cowboys stick with six corners again?
The entire group is fully healthy. Revel has recovered from knee surgery heading into his rookie year last year.
It seems there is healthy competition for the backup spots.
A slot corner could come from the 11 corners on the roster, unless the Cowboys ask a safety to take that spot. Of course, special teams are a major component from that position. Moore, a 2026 fourth-round pick from Florida, is slated for special teams work.
Last season, corner Reddy Steward finished with seven special teams tackles and should compete for a roster spot. During his news conference with reporters Thursday, Schottenheimer praised the offseason work of Carson, who struggled at times last season.
Wide receivers are competing for spots
In a similar fashion to cornerback, the wide receiver group is going to have a competitive battle this offseason. George Pickens, KaVontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy and CeeDee Lamb are locks for the 53.
Anthony Smith, a seventh-rounder, could also make the 53 or be moved to the practice squad as the final roster gets secured in August.
That leaves us with several players battling for one or maybe two spots at wideout. Veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jonathan Mingo might be the leaders to make the roster from their work in training camp and preseason.
Kenny Clark’s move
Defensive tackle Kenny Clark was traded from Green Bay to Dallas on Aug. 29, six days before the 2025 season opener.
Everything went fast for Clark, who emerged as a needed veteran presence for a team in need of someone in that role on defense. Clark is settled in now, entering Year 2 for the Cowboys.
Last year, Clark spent the entire offseason with the Packers and had to get adjusted to things with the Cowboys.
“A couple of weeks,” Clark said on the move of getting settled. “I mean, as I got my house and stuff with the family, got my daughter into school and all that stuff. Yeah, I settled in, but I just moved again. I got closer to the facility so I could get here quicker and get on my recovery and all that kind of stuff. So, I’m settled in now and it’s awesome because, like I said, this is my first offseason with the team and just being able to really just establish that culture, establish how we work whether it’s in the weight room field work, whatever it is.”
Rashan Gary’s boasts
Part of the rebuild of the Cowboys’ defense was giving up a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Packers for end Rashan Gary.
In the last two seasons, Gary had 15 sacks and 35 quarterback hits. It’s interesting to note that in 2025, Gary had 7.5 sacks the first eight weeks of the season but didn’t register another one the final nine games. He did have seven quarterback hits during that time.
Gary said he’s happy to join the Cowboys and play rush end and boasted that he’s going to be a problem for offensive linemen.
“Film speak for itself, but man, I’m a dog, man,” Gary said. “I play with a lot of effort, cause a lot of pressure. I don’t feel nobody like going against me. I’m just bringing the same energy, same hustle same mentality.”
Pass rush by committee
The Rams’ acquisition of Arlington native Myles Garrett from the Browns this week created more questions about the Cowboys’ pass rush.
The team has had either DeMarcus Lawrence or Micah Parsons as the lead pass rusher off the edge. The strength of the pass rush this season is from the interior of the line with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
The Cowboys’ sacks and pressures this season will come from a committee of players.
“I think some of the best pass rushing teams I know we’ve faced, don’t have necessarily one guy,” Schottenheimer said. “It’s easier to shut one guy down. One elite guy, you can pay a lot of attention to. It’s better off when you look at Denver and obviously [Nik] Bonitto put up big numbers, but I mean, they were getting six-plus sacks, I think from seven or eight different guys. Something crazy like that. I really do think it’s more of the unit. And that’s what we’re excited about with the depth that we feel that we have.”
Tyron Smith’s return
When left tackle Tyron Smith retired following the 2024 season, spending time with family was one of his high priorities.
As he enters more into retirement, Smith, considered one of the best tackles during his 14 years in the league, is also giving back to the game. He’s spent time working with the Cowboys’ offensive linemen during offseason work.
“He comes whenever he wants,” left tackle Tyler Guyton said. “His presence is incredible. He knows everything about football, especially the left tackle position.”
The Cowboys have also encouraged former players to visit The Star and work with players. Hall of Famer Charles Haley continues to work with pass rushers during the season.