Brian Schottenheimer’s promise of energetic and intense practices manifested itself with punches thrown on just the second day of camp. We’ll tell you who was going at it, and how the head coach reacted to it. Things couldn’t be more harmonious, though, between the team’s top two receivers. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are showing off just how excited they are to be in Oxnard and how close they’ve become in a few short months, right down to their debut of a new touchdown celebration that, while admittedly very cool-looking, is going to draw heavy fines if they do it for real this season. We’ll also tell you about the brief injury scare involving one of the two playmakers.
Additionally in this news wrapup, we’ll reveal the team’s top-secret running back threat, we’ll explain why DaRon Bland had a good reason for bailing on Wednesday’s practice, we’ll show you how DeMarvion Overshown is staying engaged with the defense during his rehab, and we’ll tell you what turned kicker Brandon Aubrey around on the new fun-and-games competitions taking place around the Cowboys locker room.
CeeDee Lamb elated to be back at training camp with Cowboys, feels ‘1,000%’ healthy :: The Mothership
In his first training camp appearance since 2023, Lamb remarked on how much he missed summer work with Dak Prescott during his holdout last year. He says he’s fully healthy following the shoulder injury that lingered for much of the 2024 season and reports that he’s looking forward to reminding the league what happens when both he and his quarterback are healthy and connected.
George Pickens says he’s ‘excited to run better plays’ with Cowboys :: USA Today
The wideout took a thinly-veiled shot at his former club and its pedestrian offense this week. When asked if he would be more than just a deep threat in Dallas, Pickens responded in the affirmative, adding, “I’m definitely excited to run better plays.” He nevertheless averaged almost 1,000 yards a season in lackluster Steelers systems run by Matt Canada and Arthur Smith. He hopes to do far better numbers as a Cowboy.
It took George Pickens just two practices to have his first Cowboys injury scare :: The Landry Hat
There were some nervous moments when Pickens went down after failing to reel in a sideline pass on Wednesday. But it appeared to be just a cramp; he jogged off under his own power and was later spotted catching balls off the JUGS machine.
George Pickens forming close bond with CeeDee Lamb as Cowboys’ season approaches :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The two have been practically joined at the hip during practices, having bonded this summer while on retreat with Prescott. Both have remarked on their fast friendship. “CeeDee’s a certain type of guy, I’m a certain type of guy,” Pickens said, “so when you mesh that together, it’s like Mario Bros. We definitely can do something special.” Lamb already predicts the two will remain Cowboys teammates for multiple seasons.
Lamb, Pickens debut guns-and-grenades celebration sure to draw fines :: Jon Machota
CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens pic.twitter.com/XLLizvFjcP
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 23, 2025
KaVontae Turpin turns heads at practice as RB; could be wild card in Cowboys backfield :: Cowboys Wire
The All-Pro return man got just 16 carries last season, but his yards-per-rush average was better than all but two players with that many attempts who aren’t running backs or quarterbacks. Maybe that will happen more often in 2025. And maybe that’s why he was seen toting the rock off backfield handoffs several times in Tuesday’s opening practice session.
Cowboys have fight for second-straight camp practice: ‘We’ve got to be professionals’ :: Dallas Morning News
Tempers flared on Wednesday, with safety Markquese Bell and rookie tight end Tyler Neville coming to blows at one point. Schottenheimer, who has promised an energetic and physical camp, gathered the team and gave an expletive-laden tongue-lashing, promising to eject the next player to throw a punch.
Oxnard Observations: Cowboys first two days from camp offer intriguing possibilities :: Cowboys Wire
The offense has shown an early preponderance of motion and shifts and play-action. The tight end group has been up and down, with all of them (and coach Lunda Wells) sentenced to push-ups for a bad drop. Dak Prescott’s connection with Jake Ferguson looks to be in midseason form, though. And Marshawn Kneeland has impressed for the defense.
DaRon Bland has good excuse for missing Wednesday practice :: Todd Archer
DaRon Bland was not at Wednesday’s practice as he awaited the birth of his child. Andrew Booth and Caelen Carson saw some time with the first team, while Kemon Hall worked in the nickel, too.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 23, 2025
Explosive and elusive, RB Deuce Vaughn impressing in Cowboys training camp :: Cowboys Wire
The 5-foot-6 jitterbug can no longer rely on being the heartwarming story of the 2023 draft. But so far in Oxnard, Vaughn has been quick to the hole, explosive out of his cuts, and hellbent on getting downfield fast. How Vaughn holds up when pads and contact ramp up is the question everyone’s asking.
DeMarvion Overshown staying involved during rehab :: Joseph Hoyt
Brian Schottenheimer talked today about how DeMarvion Overshown can be an active participant while watching practice. He has a call sheet and he’s in the hip pocket of Matt Eberflus discussing plays before and after. #Cowboyspic.twitter.com/C6nbFPxNU4
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 23, 2025
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey on why he bought in to Camp Schotty’s teambuilding exercises :: Dallas Morning News
The kicker admits he was skeptical at first. But he’s come to see what Brian Schottenheimer’s ping-pong tournaments and Nerf-basketball shooting contests provide for some of his teammates who perhaps don’t feel the same kind of individual pressure to perform that he does with every kick. “Until you go up there and you feel it, like, ‘Okay, yeah. This makes sense, I get what he’s doing,'” Aubrey explained. “So it’s getting everyone a chance to feel like the game comes down to them, that specific play, and they get to operate under that pressure.”
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys News: Lamb, Pickens bonding; Schottenheimer blasts fight
