Caleb Downs and the Dallas Cowboys are in training camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California, in preparation for the 2026 NFL regular season. Brian Schottenheimer is in his second season as the head coach of the Cowboys, coming off a 7-9-1 record and No. 2 finish in the NFC East behind the 11-6 Philadelphia Eagles.
Dallas was elite on offense last season, led by 6-foot-2 quarterback Dak Prescott. George Pickens earned his first All-Pro honors, stepping up with CeeDee Lamb suffering from a lingering high ankle sprain. Defense was another story for the Cowboys last season, finishing last in the league in points allowed per game (30.1).
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To help shore up the defense, the Cowboys traded up one spot, trading their No. 12 overall pick for the Miami Dolphins' No. 11 overall pick to select Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs. Downs comes in with high expectations, entering the league with two straight unanimous All-American honors and the 2025 Lott Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award wins. With the media attention on Jerry Jones' Cowboys as it is, coach Schottenheimer has revealed Downs' role for the 2026 NFL preseason.
On the social media website X, Cowboys beat writer Tommy Yarrish reported that coach Schottenheimer is committed to his preseason plan of who will play, but also revealed that Downs will play a little. Schottenheimer said that rookie Malachi Lawrence will also play.
"Brian Schottenheimer says the #Cowboys are still going through their preseason plan in terms of who will play, but that he expects both of Dallas' first-round picks, Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence, to “play a little bit.”"
Dallas will head to Lumen Field to face the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
