untung99.biz: The Blueprint 2023 Cowboys Training Camp Hub

OXNARD, California — It all begins anew for the Dallas Cowboys as continue 2023 training camp with the hopes of launching their journey to exorcize their playoff demons. To do so, they’ll need to lock in early in Southern California, especially considering the major changes having been made this offseason — including the split from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Dak Prescott is looking to build chemistry not only with Brian Schottenheimer on the sideline but also Brandin Cooks in-between the lines, along with sorting through the talented group of tight ends and running backs, with Tony Pollard being his lead horse in the backfield.

The defensive side of the ball features more explosive matchups than you can shake a stick at, and potential Year 2 jumps from players like Sam Williams and Damone Clark, and rookie first-round pick Mazi Smith finally gets his wish to put the pads on and get hands-on; and then there’s Stephon Gilmore making his camp debut for Dallas opposite Trevon Diggs.

And oh by the way, Diggs is already enjoying his fourth camp, and with a new deal in hand, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

Welcome to the 2023 training camp hub, the tracker for every official bit of Cowboys news and analysis that will help you stay up to speed on how things are going before the regular season gets underway in September.

Do yourself a favor and bookmark this to avoid missing any of the action.

Ronald Jones, RB (Groin) – The veteran running back is “disappointed” at the test result and failed appeal that resulted in a two-game suspension, but he looked strong during the Blue-White Practice before leaving to be evaluated with an apparent groin issue. His status going forward is … \[Full story here\].

Mazi Smith, DL (Knee) – The rookie first-round pick was absent from practice on Tuesday with knee tendinitis, leaving to undergo a precautionary MRI that showed no additional issues. Smith was back on the practice field the next day and in padded practice on Thursday, and there’s now a great chance he makes his preseason debut vs. the Jaguars.

Tyler Biadasz, C (Ankle) – The team’s starting center left practice on Tuesday after rolling his ankle and returned to the sideline before being removed completely out of precaution. He’s since returned to a full workload at practice and no further concerns are present at this time.

David Durden, WR (Head) – The rookie wide receiver exited practice earlier this week with a head injury suffered on a highlight catch for a touchdown in one-on-one drills, and remains out of practice for now. He will also not take the field in the preseason opener against the Jaguars.

Sam Williams, EDGE (shoulder) – Williams left padded practice last week with what is described as a shoulder strain. He participated in individual drills the next but not team drills, as the Cowboys exercise caution in what could be a breakout season for Williams, though he did return on … \[Full story here\]

Dorance Armstrong, EDGE (hamstring) – Joining Williams on the sideline for now is Armstrong, who had a career season for the Cowboys in 2022. Armstrong has yet to participate in padded practice as he deals with hamstring tightness, instead working with the rehab group this week, but the team is … \[Full story here\]

Simi Fehoko, WR (quad) – Fehoko was seen on the sideline to finish padded practice on Tuesday after a collision with a linebacker left him with a quad contusion to deal with. He was present in the team’s walkthrough one day later, and has since returned to practice and is making plays after doing so.

Trevon Diggs, CB (toe) – After missing the first padded practice with a sore toe, and a couple of non-padded practices the week prior, the First-Team All-Pro cornerback is back and with a bang, making impact plays in practice on Tuesday (August 1) and getting into his usual jawing match with Dak Prescott in an exchange that shows … \[Full story here\]

Donovan Wilson, S (calf) – Wilson, who recently signed a multi-year extension to remain with the Cowboys, left practice early on Day 1 with injury that is expected to sideline him a few weeks. The good news is he is out of his … \[Full story here\]

Israel Mukuamu, S (hamstring) – Mukuamu also exited practice early on Day 1, but with a hamstring issue that was set to keep him sidelined alongside Wilson for several weeks. He has now returned to practice and after stepping in and playing well against Tom Brady in the playoffs, the stage is set for Mukuamu to … \[Full story here\]

Tony Pollard, RB (ankle) – This season will serve as the most pivotal of Pollard’s young career in the wake of the Cowboys parting ways with Ezekiel Elliott,but the good news is it appears the former is back to full health after fracturing his lower leg in January — dodging the PUP list. The plan for Pollard in camp is … [Full story here]

Terence Steele, OL (knee) – Progress is being made in Steele’s recovery from his torn ACL suffered late last season, but he’s ahead of schedule and the Cowboys have made a decision on his status to start training camp that will impact … [Full story here]

Jourdan Lewis, CB (foot) – Not unlike Steele, Lewis is working to return from a devastating injury of his own. The veteran cornerback suffered a Lisfranc injury that deleted his 2022 season and, as camp fires up in Oxnard, the decision has been made to … [Full story here]

Luke Schoonmaker (foot) – The rookie second-round pick was seen in a walking boot in minicamp as he managed inflammation in his foot, and though the boot was absent on the final day of minicamp, Schoonmaker’s is making progress toward a possible debut on … [Full story here]

If you’re viewing preseason games through the scope of wins and losses, you’re doing it wrong.

The point of these matchups is for the Cowboys (and their opponent) to put their youth and fringe players through the ringer to determine who’ll rise to the top and make a name for themselves to avoid being a roster casualty ahead of the NFL deadline on August 29.

And that means every battle happening in camp will be thrust onto center stage in the Cowboys three preseason games of 2023.

Week 1 – Cowboys vs. Jaguars

• Date: Saturday, Aug 12
• Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
• Time: 5 pm ET
• Jaguars 2022 record: 9-8

I’m willing to bet there’s still a pinch of salt in this matchup, considering the Jaguars engineered a comeback victory against the Cowboys in overtime last season to send the latter out of Jacksonville with a serious black eye. You won’t see Trevor Lawrence or Dak Prescott suit up for this rematch in Dallas, but you can bet there’s still added motivation for the Cowboys defense to try and make it a long day for C.J Beathard and Nathan Rourke.

And the fact they’ll potentially get to match up against Calvin Ridley in his return to football (he’ll probably play to knock off rust ahead of September) makes for an intriguing matchup against a young group of cornerbacks vying for footing behind Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis.

I’d keep my eye on Eric Scott here, as one example of who to watch.

Offensively, you’ll see Cooper Rush and Will Grier battle for positive headlines with Jalen Tolbert and Simi Fehoko taking center stage in August in the war for WR4, and taking the also-young Jaguars defense to task would go a long way in helping both — the same being the case for every running back in Dallas not named Tony Pollard (e.g., will Deuce Vaughn take an early lead over the veterans?). – Patrik Walker

Week 2 – Cowboys at Seahawks

• Date: Saturday, August. 19
• Location: Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)
• Time: 10 pm ET
• Seahawks 2022 record: 9-8

Whenever the Seahawks and the Cowboys meet, be it preseason or in the regular season, there always seems to be some type of fireworks that pushes the vitriol to another level.

There was Golden Tate’s controversial blindside block on Sean Lee in 2012. There was Tony Romo’s spin and pinpoint toss to Terence Williams for an incredible twinkletoes catch on third-and-20 that led the Cowboys to victory in the 2014 regular season. There was Ezekiel Elliott turning Kam Chancellor’s preseason welcome card in 2016 into an afternoon filled with regret. And, of course, there was the preseason hit by Cliff Avril — in the aforementioned 2016 preseason game — that ended Romo’s career with the Cowboys and ushered in the era of Dak Prescott.

I think you get the point: these two teams do not like each other. On that note, tee up another round, as a primer to the bigger matchup to come in Week 13, which will mark the first time they’ve faced off in the regular season since 2020. – Patrik Walker

Week 3 – Cowboys vs. Raiders

• Date: Saturday, August 26
• Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
• Time: 7 pm ET
• Raiders 2022 record: 6-11

This one could get very intriguing, because it’s unknown if the Raiders will risk getting any snaps to Jimmy Garoppolo with the hopes of this matchup serving as his dress rehearsal in his new outfit — having signed him to a three-year deal this offseason following his departure from the 49ers.

There’s clearly the issue of his health, or lack thereof, over the past few seasons so in the event he’s not allowed to take the field until September, it’ll be one of the currently three other quarterbacks on the roster, though it’s less likely you’ll see Brian Hoyer taking a chunk of snaps with the Raiders needing to evaluate both Chase Garbers and rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell.

Either way, it’s a great chance for the Cowboys to put the finishing touches on their training camp and preseason evaluation process because there’s nothing left to do after this game except hack the roster down to a final 53-man headcount. – Patrik Walker