Frisco, TX — The Dallas Cowboys closed the book on their 2026 training camp Wednesday with a final practice that gave fans plenty to remember. The offense finished camp with Dak Prescott connecting with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens for multiple touchdowns, while several defensive players continued to make their case for important roles.
The final session also provided more clues about the Cowboys’ depth chart and the versatility they are building on defense. From Jaishawn Barham working with the first team to Tyler Smith easing back into team drills, there were plenty of developments worth watching as Dallas turns its attention toward the regular season.
Todd Archer of ESPN and Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com provided observations from the final practice. Here are the biggest takeaways from Practice No. 15.
Dak Prescott ends camp on a high note
Prescott and the Cowboys’ first team offense put together an impressive final team period. The quarterback found Lamb for a touchdown, with Tyler Guyton doing just enough against Donovan Ezeiruaku to give Prescott the time he needed to make the throw.
What's New
Lamb was not finished. Four plays later, he made a toe tapping catch while being defended by DaRon Bland, showing once again why he remains one of the most dangerous weapons in the Cowboys’ offense.
Yarrish also noted another touchdown between Prescott and Lamb during the final team period. Lamb juggled the ball while dealing with tight coverage from Bland but somehow managed to secure it for another touchdown.
That was followed by another impressive Prescott touchdown pass, this time to Pickens. Pickens went over Cobie Durant on a slot fade, continuing what has been a strong training camp for the Cowboys’ newest major offensive weapon.
source on Google Go here and check the box
next to Cowboys.news
George Pickens keeps making contested catches
Pickens has consistently shown the ability to win when the ball is in the air, and his final practice was another reminder of that skill. His touchdown over Durant came in the type of contested situation Dallas will expect him to win during the regular season.
The chemistry between Prescott and Pickens has become one of the more intriguing storylines of camp. Pickens has the size, athleticism and ball tracking ability to give Prescott another legitimate option in the passing game.
Also read: Cowboys 53-man roster stock market: Bubble players surging and slumping before final cuts
Jake Ferguson earns another trust throw
Ferguson also made his presence felt during the final practice. Prescott delivered one of his longest completions on a back shoulder throw down the sideline to the tight end.
Malik Hooker was in decent position on the play, but Ferguson adjusted to the football and came down with it. It was the kind of throw that requires a quarterback to trust his receiver and a receiver to make the necessary adjustment.
Ferguson later became involved in another important play when Jalen Thompson broke up a Prescott bootleg pass intended for the tight end. Thompson’s playmaking has increased since returning from the hip flexor issue that slowed him earlier in camp.
Jaishawn Barham continues to show up
Rookie linebacker Barham continued to work with the first team defense alongside Shavon Revel. The Cowboys are giving young players opportunities, and Barham has continued to show why he deserves serious consideration in the defensive rotation.
Barham produced one of the more notable plays of the practice when he forced a Prescott fumble on a blitz up the middle. The coaching staff likely liked the pressure and finish, although there was one obvious problem with the play.
Barham broke the ‘halo’ around the quarterback. The Cowboys clearly want their defenders to generate pressure without crossing the line when the quarterback is in a protected situation during practice.
Cowboys continue experimenting with defensive versatility
The final practice once again highlighted the number of players who can move around the Cowboys’ defense. Revel and Barham worked with the first team, while Jalen Thompson saw snaps in the slot.
P.J. Locke also took some first team snaps in place of Hooker. That kind of flexibility could become valuable once the regular season begins, especially when injuries force the Cowboys to change personnel and responsibilities.
The Cowboys are clearly not building a defense around rigid positions. They are giving several players opportunities to line up in different spots and create matchup advantages.
Tyler Smith takes a cautious step forward
Tyler Smith was dressed for practice but had a lighter workload. He did not participate in the one on one drills against defensive linemen and only took a handful of snaps during team periods.
When Smith was not on the field, T.J. Bass worked at left guard. The Cowboys appear to be managing Smith carefully rather than pushing him through the final practice of camp.
That makes his status worth monitoring as Dallas moves into the preseason finale and begins preparing for the regular season.
Von Miller focuses on conditioning
Von Miller was another interesting presence during practice. After most snaps in which he was not involved during team drills, Miller would run approximately 30 yards as part of his conditioning work.
The Cowboys know what Miller can provide as a pass rusher. At this stage, they also need to make sure the veteran is physically prepared to handle his expected workload when the games begin to matter.
Sam Williams makes his presence felt
Sam Williams had a strong sequence against the second team offense. He recorded a would be sack of Sam Howell after working through tight end Jake Kuntz and offensive tackle Drew Shelton.
Williams also made an impact earlier in the practice with a run stop and a pass breakup on a screen. The former second round pick remains an important player to watch as Dallas determines how its defensive line rotation will look.
Sam Howell remains ahead of Joe Milton
The quarterback rotation continued to provide another useful clue. Like the past week, Brian Schottenheimer did not reveal who will start Friday against New Orleans, but Sam Howell continued to take the No. 2 snaps in practice, with Milton following him.
That does not necessarily settle the preseason quarterback decision, but it does show how the rotation was structured during the final camp session.
Prescott remains firmly established as the starter. The competition behind him is about determining who gives the Cowboys the best combination of readiness, development and reliability if they ever need to turn to their backup.
Cowboys test Jonathan Mingo on special teams
Jonathan Mingo added another dimension to his preseason roster case by working as a gunner with the first team punt coverage unit.
He also worked as a punt returner. For a player competing for a roster spot, the ability to contribute on special teams can be just as important as what he produces at wide receiver.
Mingo now has another role to consider as the Cowboys move closer to final roster decisions.
Ferguson and Luepke practice emergency long snapping
The Cowboys also spent time preparing for a situation nobody wants to see. Ferguson and Hunter Luepke took turns working as the long snapper while the team looks for an emergency option behind Trent Sieg.
Luepke also worked as a holder. It is not a glamorous part of the practice, but having a backup plan for every specialist position can prevent a small injury from becoming a major game day problem.
Michael Trigg returns
Tight end Michael Trigg returned to practice for the first time since suffering a toe injury during the Cowboys’ preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
His return gives Dallas another body at tight end as the team evaluates its roster ahead of the final cuts. Trigg will now have a limited window to show the coaching staff what he can contribute.
Caelen Carson closes camp with a play
Caelen Carson also made a notable defensive play. The cornerback broke up an underneath pass from Joe Milton intended for Markquez Valdes Scantling.
Carson closed quickly on the route and prevented the completion. Plays like that matter when the Cowboys are evaluating the depth of their secondary and deciding which defensive backs deserve roster spots.
Cowboys legends return to watch the finale
The final practice also carried some history with it. Several former Cowboys were in attendance, including Emmitt Smith, Daryl Johnston, Charles Haley, Everson Walls, Bradie James, Keith Davis, Tyron Smith, Tony Casillas and Preston Pearson.
Former Cowboys head coach Dave Campo was also on hand. Their presence added another layer to the final day of a training camp that has now officially come to an end.
The real work begins now
Training camp is over, but the Cowboys are nowhere near finished making decisions. The preseason finale against New Orleans will provide another opportunity for players fighting for roster spots, while the coaching staff will continue evaluating how the pieces fit together.
The final practice offered plenty of positive signs. Prescott looked sharp. Lamb and Pickens continued to make big plays. Ferguson showed his reliability. Young defenders such as Barham and Revel received first team opportunities, while veterans such as Miller continued preparing for the long season ahead.
Now the Cowboys have to turn those practice performances into something that matters. The comfortable part of camp is finished. Roster decisions, preseason evaluation and eventually real NFL games are next.
