3 questions after the first two days of Cowboys training camp

Jul 29, 2026; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker (left) with head coach Brian Schottenheimer at training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Dallas Cowboys wereoff on Friday, which means it's a good time to take stock of where the team stands. There's not a ton of critical information to pull from just 48 hours of practice time, but the trends are starting to develop on both sides of the ball.

Here are three questions we're left with heading into the weekend around Cowboys training camp.

1. Checking the Mic

After two days of camp, head coach Brian Schottenheimer sounds very confident in DeMarvion Overshown's ability to wear the green dot on defense. Schotty said the team ran through a scenario in which the headset communication between Christian Parker and Overshown broke down. It was up to Overshown to make the right call. The Dallas head coach praised the young linebacker for getting the team in the right spot.

It's no secret the Cowboys linebacking core is a question mark right now, and it starts with who the team feels confident in to lead the defense and relay the calls on the field. Schottenheimer said there are about three or four players that will rotate the mic responsibilities as camp moves along.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said in addition to DeMarvion Overshown wearing the green dot, rookie Caleb Downs, Shemar James and Curtis Robinson are also wearing the green dot.
That speaks volumes about what they think of Caleb Downs.@DLLS_Cowboys

- Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) July 30, 2026

The Cowboys could be looking to add at linebacker through a potential trade or free agent addition, so all options remain on the table for now.

2. Five is a crowd

When it comes to crunching the numbers for the final roster, the Cowboys won't need to worry about that for a few weeks. However, given what CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy have done over two days, it begs the question of whether four receivers might be enough to make the initial 53-man roster.

The Cowboys might want to go longer at positions of question like defensive line or linebacker, so having a fifth wide receiver could be a luxury Dallas can't afford. The Cowboys may have the best wide receiver trio in the NFL, and adding KaVontae Turpin into the mix as a gadget, fourth option may be enough.

Jonathan Mingo, Anthony Smith, Traeshon Holden and the rest of the wide receiver room will have to be special to justify Dallas keeping a fifth wide receiver over a defensive player.

3. Rushing to conclusions

After two days, if one side of the ball had to be crowned the winner," it would be the offense. Dak Prescott has reportedly had all day to throw in the pocket and hasn't seen much pressure. The glass-half-full approach would say the Dallas offense will live up to the hype of Greatest Offense There Is' and the offensive line is poised to take a big step forward. The glass-half-empty approach would say the pass rush is in desperate need of help.

Will Maxx Crosby be a part of the Cowboys plans for 2026? The trade that may lurk around the corner will tell a lot about the team's confidence in where their pass rush unit may be.