Rounding Up Cowboys' Rumors, Buzz Surrounding 2024 Training Camp
The Dallas Cowboys are just one day away from kicking off training camp in Oxnard, California. The traditional kick off to the season will face added pressure as the Cowboys head into a critical 2024 season.
It's been well-publicized at this point that several key figures in the current Cowboys regime are facing make-or-break seasons. Mike McCarthy is in the final year of his contract. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are in the same boat.
After three straight years of 12 wins with early exits in the playoffs, there's a lot of pressure for the Cowboys to finally break through. The dawn of training camp brings those goals into focus and brings a whole new batch of buzz concerning important injury updates and contract negotiations.
Here's a look at the latest on a few hot topics surrounding the team as they prepare for training camp.
Trevon Diggs Expected to Start Season on PUP
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The Cowboys didn't do a whole lot to add talent in free agency or through the trade market. Getting Trevon Diggs back after he missed all but two games last season will have a similar effect for the Cowboys as a major signing, though.
When healthy, Diggs has All-Pro potential at corner and addresses a major need the Cowboys have on paper right now.
Unfortunatley, they will have to wait until after training camp starts to find out what Diggs looks like after his ACL tear. David Moore of The Dallas Morning News reported that Diggs will begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform List.
Moore expounded on his reporting, noting that club officials still believe that Diggs will be ready for the season opener on September 8 against the Cleveland Browns.
Diggs' health is going to be a crucial storyline to watch. Stephon Gilmore remains unsigned and while the Cowboys have a strong starting trio on paper with DaRon Bland, Diggs and Jourdan Lewis they don't have a ton of depth behind them.
Missing the beginning of camp isn't surprising. It's only been nine months since Diggs suffered the injury. His absence early in camp should give some younger players a chance to get some important reps.
Luke Schoonmaker and Mazi Smith Could Be Cleared to Participate
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Diggs isn't expected to be ready to go by the start of camp, but that's not a huge deal. Dallas already knows what he can do. It's much more important that unproven players like Luke Schoonmaker and Mazi Smith are able to get work in when camp starts on Thursday.
According to Moore, Schoonmaker (hamstring) and Smith (shoulder surgery) "could be cleared to participate" at the beginning of camp.
That's great news for the Cowboys because both are young players who have not lived up to their draft stock to this point.
Schoonmaker was the team's second-round draft pick in the 2023 draft, but his rookie season only yileded eight receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Fortunately, Jake Ferguson broke out which helped mitigate Schoonmaker's lackluster debut season.
Still, the offense would be better if Schoonmaker is able to make strides this preseason and help the Cowboys utilize more 12 personnel. That would create a little more diversity within the Dallas offense.
Smith was the team's first-round pick last year. He only managed to play 28 percent of the defensive snaps. If his shoulder winds up costing him the early part of camp it could be hard for him to get in shape and build the endurance to play more snaps this season.
No "Substantial Contract Talks" Between CeeDee Lamb and Cowboys
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The on-field drills and practices are the most anticipated part of training camp, but the possibility of a new contract for CeeDee Lamb should also be a point of interest for Cowboys fans.
With the Minnesota Vikings taking care of Jusin Jefferson this offseason, Lamb is the next receiver in line to get paid. But the Cowboys faithful got a bit of frustrating news from Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News when he reported that the Cobwoys haven't "had substantial contract talks with Lamb heading into camp.
That's disappointing because the Cowboys have a lot of work to do on the contract extension front. Lamb joins Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons as stars who need to be extended in the near future.
Lamb has been classified as the team's "No. 1 priority" in previous reports. Ideally that would have meant that he would come into camp with a new contract and take a potential holdout off the table.
Instead, they are just a day away from camp with a myriad of possibilities. Watkins wrote a follow-up post on X that the situation could go down multiple paths. Lamb could holdout, show up to camp but not participate in practices until a new deal is reached or they could get a deal done.
It seems like getting a deal done of this magnitude before camp would be difficult if they haven't had any substantial conversations. Lamb missing the early portion of camp isn't a big deal, but it's still a bad look that the Cowboys have dragged their feet to this point.
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