By all accounts the big “winner” so far in the Dallas Cowboys’ OTAs and minicamp was top draft pick Caleb Downs, but that doesn’t rate as a surprise. So which Cowboy who was under the radar most exceeded expectations?
That would be the best receiver who hasn’t been in offseason news much, according to a 32-team list from ESPN.
His next chance to shine will be at training camp and Dallas now has its schedule for its annual trip to Oxnard, Calif. A former Cowboy also learned he won’t have to pay for his sons’ tuition to Notre Dame, as they are going on scholarship.
We know now Dallas has five more weeks to get through before training camp and here’s what they’re doing now.
Ryan Flournoy
Last season, then second-year pro Ryan Flournoy emerged as the Dallas Cowboys’ No. 3 receiver, to the point he got occasional mention as a reason Dallas could trade George Pickens.
Evidently he’s gotten even better this summer, as ESPN included him in its “Biggest surprise players on each team” article.
Todd Archer, the Cowboys reporter for ESPN, writes: “Flournoy is coming off a 40-catch, 475-yard, four-touchdown season a year ago when he had two 100-yard games, so surprise might be a little much, but if something happens to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the Cowboys know what they have in Flournoy. He is strong attacking the ball. This offseason, he has worked in the slot more.
“’He earned it the right way, he earned it through special teams. He earned it by doing the run blocking, doing the things in the run game − the dirty work, if you will,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. ‘Now he’s one of those guys − because he does everything right − Dak (Prescott) doesn’t hesitate when he looks at him. He just turns it loose. He gets to his spot.’”
Training camp dates
Dallas has its official training camp dates, which have been released by the NFL.
All Cowboys, veterans and rookies, will report to training camp in Oxnard, California on July 28. On August 11, the Cowboys travel to Los Angeles for a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams. On August 18, the Saints will travel to Oxnard for Dallas’ second and final joint practice of camp.
Dallas’ preseason opener is in Seattle on Aug. 15. They head to Arizona for an Aug. 22 preseason game, then return to their facility in Frisco for the rest of the year. Their only preseason home game is Aug. 28 against the Saints.
Dallas Cowboys preseason schedule 2026
Dallas opens the semi-competitive part of its fall schedule against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 15 in their preseason opener. Here is the three-game preseason slate.
Week 1 Sat, Aug 15 at Seattle Seahawks 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT
Week 2 Sat, Aug 22 at Arizona Cardinals 11 a.m. MT/noon CT
Week 3 Sat, Aug 29 vs. New Orleans Saints 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT
Julius Jones
Former Dallas Cowboys (and Notre Dame) running Julius Jones had two highly-recruited sons commit to his alma mater Notre Dame. Julius Jones Jr., a four-star wide receiver in the Class of 2027, and his younger brother Andre, a four-star defensive back in the Class of 2028, announced their commitments on Monday’s Pat McAfee Show on ESPN.
Their father rushed 3,018 yards across four seasons with the Fighting Irish and is the sixth-leading rusher in program history. He played for Dallas from 2004-07 at the beginning of his seven-year career, after the team drafted him in the second round.
His best year with the Cowboys was in 2006 when he rushed for 1,084 yards as Dallas’ starting tailback.
Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is trying to force his way out of San Francisco and he’s making it clear where he wants to end up.
In his latest Instagram video Sunday night, Aiyuk was yelling, “Go Commanders! Go Commanders! Go Commanders! Raise Hail! Take Command!”
Then, Aiyuk posted a photo of Washington’s former quarterback, Mark Rypien, hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl XXVI.
The connection is that he evidently wants to play with his former Arizona State quarterback, Jayden Daniels, the star for the Commanders.
This is the latest in a noisy offseason where 49ers GM John Lynch said it’s “safe to say (Aiyuk has) played his last snap with the Niners.”
Aiyuk last played for the 49ers in 2024 when he blew out his knee. Last year he was placed on the physically unable to perform list, then didn’t do any rehab with the team, which led San Francisco to void his guarantee money.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Who stood out at Dallas Cowboys minicamp? Hint: It’s a WR
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
