Dak Prescott, Cowboys offense waste no time finding their rhythm in Oxnard

OXNARD, Calif. — Cowboys veteran quarterback Dak Prescott came up with a new nickname for the team's dynamic offense this offseason: "GOTI," which stands for "Greatest Offense There Is." On the second day of training camp, the unit looked every bit the part, picking up right where it left off last season.

“Going into year two, we know that last year’s success doesn’t just carry over to this year’s success,” Prescott said after today’s practice. “It’s awesome to see these guys in meetings, in walkthroughs, taking every moment and every rep serious because we have to be better than we were last year. In our mind, that’s our standard to hold each other accountable to do that.”

Dak added that they were close to accomplishing “some historic things last year,” and is confident in the group they have. He referenced the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ when speaking about the new nickname.

The nucleus of the offense remains intact as they enter the second season under head coach Brian Schottenheimer and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, along with their elite receiving duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

Prescott, who turned 33 years old yesterday, connected with his top two receivers multiple times today. In their first season together, Lamb and Pickens combined for 2,506 yards on 168 catches and 12 touchdowns, establishing themselves as one of the league's best tandems.

There’s a chance that this will be their final year together, as Pickens is on the franchise tag (one-year, $27.3 million). He’ll have to prove his worth once again this season after his career year. He said that he leaves all contract talks to his agent and is focused on making catches, plays, and being a playmaker.

Schottenheimer has noticed a more focused Pickens this year, saying he’s been dialed into meetings, and expects him to be a “very motivated” version of himself in 2026—“That's great news for us and bad news for the rest of the league."

Earlier this week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Pickens could be in Dallas for the remainder of his career. Those words resonated with the receiver, saying, “I’m always super happy when someone thinks highly of me, so shoutout to Jerry.”

Ever since joining the team, Pickens and Lamb have been inseparable. When asked about their relationship, Pickens said, “That’s what makes it who we are on the field. Outside of football, you want to keep your brother close and get to know the person. We’ve been doing great, collectively.”

Prescott completed 14 of his 17 passes today, according to Calvin Watkins from the Dallas Morning News. 

The stars made plays as expected, but a compelling camp battle thus far has been the RB2 competition between Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Malik Davis. Davis filled that role this past season, rushing for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Blue and Mafah saw limited playing time in their rookie season.

Both young running backs are looking to make a name for themselves early in training camp. In yesterday’s practice, Blue scored a 45-yard touchdown moments after Mafah fumbled. Despite coughing up the ball, Schottenheimer said Mafah had a “really good day.”

Mafah continued that momentum into Thursday afternoon. Lining up with the first-team offense, he took an outside handoff to the left and ran past the defense untouched, scoring a long touchdown. Known for his physicality, he showcased some nice speed up the sideline.

Blue had two plays during today’s practice that stood out. One of them was a cutback run to the left on a call that appeared to be designed to the right. He used his speed to get around Rashan Gary on the edge, picking up about 30 yards. The second play was on an inside trap in which he burst up the middle and used his blocker on the second level to pick up a significant gain.

Veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who joined the team on a one-year deal, made a leaping grab across the middle of the field with Ameer Speed in coverage. Another receiver who is trying to make the 53-man roster is Jonathan Mingo.

Dallas acquired Mingo from the Carolina Panthers back in 2024 for a 4th-round pick. Since joining, he’s had 71 yards on six receptions—it’s safe to say the trade has not panned out. However, he’s been effective thus far and has seen some work with the starting offense.

Lamb, Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy are the top receiving options, but the remaining spots are still to be determined. 

Schottenheimer praised the team's first-round picks, Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence. He said that Lawrence has done a “hell of a job of setting edges,” using his length effectively both in rushing the passer and in stopping the run. We’ll see him make more plays when the pads come on next week.

When it comes to their rookie safety, Schottenheimer said, “I don't think we can put anything on Caleb Downs that is above what he expects for himself.” He went on to compliment his understanding of the game and emphasized that he’s the type of player that will not repeat mistakes.

Prescott said Downs is “as sharp of a young rookie” he has ever seen, which is impressive considering Downs has only been with the team since late April.

After today’s practice, Downs addressed the media. He has been part of prestigious programs in his young career, including Alabama, Ohio State, and now Dallas. He takes pride in being a “student of the game,” dedicating time to studying route concepts and watching plenty of film.

The expectations for the 21-year-old are significant, as he is expected to play a major role in improving a defense that ranked near the bottom of the league last season. A reporter asked Downs what expectations he has for himself, and he said, “That's for me to know, and y'all to find out.”

Cowboys safety P.J. Locke (hyperextended knee) suffered a non-contact injury on the first day of practice and did not practice today. Schottenheimer provided an update, saying the tests looked promising and the injury is not significant.

After back-to-back practice days, the team is off on Friday and will return on Saturday, Aug. 1.