The Dallas Cowboys are days away from reporting to training camp in Oxnard, California, and a handful of questions sit on the horizon about the early days in Southern California.
There aren’t the dramatics of a CeeDee Lamb holdout and Dak Prescott extension hold to pay attention to like there was in 2024, but this season will bring its own set of challenges under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Here are the five biggest storylines going into camp.
Who emerges in the run game?
A lackluster performance from the running back position group for most of the 2024 season forced the Cowboys to rebuild that room going into 2025. But even though there are four new names in the mix, there isn’t a ton of clarity on how the depth chart will shake out.
True separation won’t happen until the pads come on in week two of training camp, but the group of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah and Deuce Vaughn will be fighting for one of at least two feature roles available in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense.
Williams, Sanders and Blue all look to have the inside track at carving out a role, but it will be a hard-fought battle to see who emerges at the top of the depth chart.
Will Micah Parsons participate?
Even though he is awaiting a contract extension heading into the final year of his rookie deal, Micah Parsons has made his intentions clear that he will not hold out from training camp. However, the next question will be if he actually participates in practices.
Parsons lightly participated, to put it loosely, in the team’s offseason OTAs and minicamp, and he declined to comment on if he will be on the field participating at camp.
If he isn’t, does that speed the process of his extension getting over the finish line? We all know the answer to that question, but what it would certainly do is open up opportunities for other defensive ends to play in a feature role in Oxnard.
Speaking of...
Will Donovan Ezeiruaku hold out?
The NFL is in uncharted territory, as a standoff with second-round picks not signing their rookie contracts has already seen one hold out from training camp. Will the Cowboys’ second-round selection Donovan Ezeiruaku do the same?
One of the best pass rushers in the 2025 draft class out of Boston College, Ezeiruaku would benefit by stacking positive practices early and often in Oxnard to sift through a talented defensive end group in Dallas. If he holds out along with the other second-round picks, he will be behind the eight ball when he finally does arrive.
Across the league, agents for second-round picks are seeking fully guaranteed contracts. The first two picks in the round already landed their wish shortly after being drafted, and No. 43 overall pick Alfred Collins signed a deal on Wednesday night guaranteeing over 87-percent of his contract. A domino effect could quickly take place or the standoff could linger into next week.
How does George Pickens assimilate?
A lot of excitement is building for George Pickens’ debut season in Dallas after being acquired in a blockbuster trade over the offseason. And while his first task of arriving without ruffling any feathers like how he left his situation in Pittsburgh has been passed with flying colors, now comes the task of assimilating on the field.
It’s hard to find a better marriage stylistically than Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, as Pickens can man the outside vertical game and Lamb can specialize in attacking defenses with his well-rounded slot and outside repertoire.
All indications show that the on-field product will be electric, but it will surely arrive with some ups-and-downs in Oxnard. How does Pickens work through them both mentally and physically in his first full season in a different NFL uniform?
Which defensive players will return from injury?
A laundry list of injuries in 2024 for the Cowboys’ defense has a handful still recovering from major knee surgeries, but the unit should get at least a couple of players back before the team returns from Southern California.
Defensive end Sam Williams, who tore his ACL in the first week of training camp last season, is expected to be a full participant when camp begins. Rookie third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr., who also tore his ACL in his senior season at East Carolina, is expected to start camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list before making his way onto the field after a couple of weeks, barring any setbacks.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs is the wild card. As he recovers from a bone chondral surgery in his knee, he is at risk of missing the entirety of training camp and even the beginning of the season.
Cornerback Josh Butler and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown are both expected to miss the entirety of camp at least the first half of the season as they each recover from torn ACLs suffered last season.
Safety Donovan Wilson had a minor knee procedure early in the offseason, but is expected to be ready for the beginning of camp after mostly working with the rehab group during OTAs and minicamp.