Cowboys camp observations: Deep ball needs work, pass rushers look good in pads

As discussions about Micah Parsons' potential contract extension heat up, punters should consider the odds that the Cowboys' defense will perform even better this season, potentially leading to more wins and favorable betting opportunities.

OXNARD, Calif. — When Jerry Jones addresses the California crowd at the start of training camp, he’s usually met with a lot of cheers, even some chants of “Jerr-y! Jerr-y! Jerr-y!” This year was different. The Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager had to pause for a few seconds Saturday morning because so many fans were yelling for him to sign star edge rusher Micah Parsons.

One fan: “When are you gonna sign Parsons?” Another: “Pay Micah!”

Fans yell “Pay Micah!” as Jerry Jones addresses the crowd

Jones heard. So did executive vice president Stephen Jones. “It doesn’t change anything,” Stephen Jones responded Sunday when asked about the vocal fans. “We want to pay Micah too. He’s gotta want to be paid.”

Parsons is under contract through the 2025 season. But he’s looking for a long-term extension, likely one that will top the three-year, $123 million deal that Pittsburgh Steelers star pass rusher T.J. Watt recently signed.

Parsons has been attending camp practices and meetings, but he has not been participating in any individual or team drills on the field. “I think Micah is doing great,” Stephen Jones said. “It means a lot to him to be here with his teammates. Hats off to him for that. We want him practicing sooner, we’d rather have him out here practicing and doing what he does best, which is wreck a practice. But hats off to him.”

Dallas did get a new contract done Saturday night, signing tight end Jake Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million extension. Others in line for new deals include left guard Tyler Smith, cornerback DaRon Bland, kicker Brandon Aubrey and defensive end Sam Williams.

“We obviously got a lot going on,” Stephen Jones said. “You just got to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s. Everybody’s got to get comfortable and go from there.”

Anybody else in the hopper? “Oh yeah,” Jones responded. Bland? “We don’t talk about it publicly,” he said. “If they want to talk about their business they can. It’s not fair for me to talk about other players’ business.”

The Cowboys held their fifth practice Sunday. It was their first in full pads. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from their work over the weekend.

• The defense looked ahead of the offense during the four non-padded practices. It continued Sunday in full pads. New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has his group swarming to the ball, rushing the passer and consistently taking the ball away, whether it’s via interceptions or punching the ball out.

• Dallas’ running back group has had some bright spots. Rookie Jaydon Blue seems to be more impactful with every practice. Veterans Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams still remain the top two on the depth chart. Sanders has consistently stood out the most, both running and in the passing game.

• The offense is still looking for success in the deep passing game. Dak Prescott hasn’t been able to connect yet with CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens in that area. That will likely come. But the highlight big plays down the field just haven’t been there yet.

Haven’t connected on the deep ball yet pic.twitter.com/1eyYuwA1r0 — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 27, 2025

• The energy remains noticeable throughout practice. As long as the Cowboys have success during the season, the energy storyline will be a very positive one. But what if they struggle? What if they are really bad? It’s easy to wonder how the storylines will change about the energy, questioning if some of it was too much.

The coaches really get into these pre-practice warmups. Didn’t expect the surfing pic.twitter.com/t7A9UyqEGV — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 26, 2025

“We’re gonna have fun and we’re gonna work,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Sunday. “You can do both. In 1985, maybe people thought you couldn’t do both. But we can. And we’ve proved that. We’re gonna prove that when you see us win a lot of football games.”

• Play of camp so far: This deep ball from backup QB Joe Milton to Blue. The offense got the perfect matchup with a defensive end defending the speedy running back. Milton delivered a nice throw on the run, but Blue gets the most credit for the one-handed grab.

Jaydon Blue 👀 — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 26, 2025

• Speaking of Milton, the big arm, athleticism and size all jump out. He looks like a robot built to be the ultimate quarterback. The one area that will be interesting to monitor in the preseason is how long he holds onto the ball. We’ve seen it during these practices where the defense is not allowed to hit the quarterback. The pressure goes by him or he tucks the ball and runs if nothing looks open. But how will that go when there is another team trying to take him down? He did just fine in that area last year in the season finale for the New England Patriots.

• Best moment of camp: It’s probably one of the coolest moments in any Cowboys training camp practice. Starting cornerback Kaiir Elam, who has been one of the standouts early, intercepted Prescott during team drills and celebrated by grabbing a young fan out of the crowd and holding him up like a scene from “The Lion King.”

Kaiir Elam interception and great celebration — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 26, 2025

• The edge-rushing group looks as good as advertised. Even with Parsons not practicing, the depth is noticeable. From Dante Fowler to Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland. But the one who has turned heads the most has been rookie second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku.

“I give (defense line coach Aaron Whitecotton) credit,” Stephen Jones said. “He was on the table for him at (Pick 12 in the first round). He was jumping up and down saying this guy is the 12th pick, let’s get him.”

What does Ezeiruaku like about the defense? “It’s not a lot of thinking,” he said. “Some coaches can overcomplicate things sometimes. (In this defense), there’s not a lot of thinking. We’re going straight and we’re attacking the ball.”

• It was a good sign to see cornerback Trevon Diggs getting some work off to the side Sunday. There’s still no timetable for when he will return, but his surgically-repaired knee appears headed in the right direction.

Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs (knee) getting in some work off to the side — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 27, 2025

(Photo of Donovan Ezeiruaku: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)

In the Cowboys' first padded practice of camp, the defense continued with the upper hand.

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