Training camp is fast approaching and Dallas will learn if all its offseason changes to its defense have improved matters, starting with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
That promises to be the biggest theme coming out of camp, though there will be others. Can Dak Prescott get in the MVP conversation? Will Dallas make one personnel move to bolster its defense and what would it look like? How much are tickets to games?
People have opinions on these things and here are a few as the offseason draws to a close.
Dallas Cowboys training camp starts
The Dallas Cowboys are set to open training camp in Oxnard, California, with the first practice coming on Wednesday, July 29.
ESPN came out with an article on storylines for all 32 teams as they head to camp, and for Dallas the question is “How quickly can Christian Parker’s defense get up to speed?”
Cowboys writer Todd Archer writes, “There are a lot of changes in personnel − potentially up to seven new starters − and scheme, as the Cowboys move to a 3-4 system. The pass rush has much to prove, with the biggest addition being the trade for edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers. The linebackers room is not particularly deep, and DeMarvion Overshown will have to prove he can stay healthy. The secondary has improved with additions in free agency (S Jalen Thompson, CB Cobie Durant) and the draft (first-rounder S Caleb Downs). The Cowboys do not have to have another Doomsday Defense to succeed in 2026, but it needs to be much improved over last season to make a difference.”
To lay out Dallas’ camp schedule, they fly to Oxnard on Monday, July 27, and have a kick-off press conference on the 28th. Practices are at River Ridge Playing Fields and are free. These times are local (Pacific) for anyone who wants to go.
Is Dak Prescott a contender for NFL MVP?
The team at DallasCowboys.com is winding down their list of 20 questions for the Cowboys offseason, and No. 1 is “Is Dak Prescott a legitimate MVP candidate for 2026?”
Not terribly surprisingly, Nick Eatman, Tommy Yarrish, Kurt Daniels and Patrik Walker all think Prescott is a legitimate MVP candidate, but there are buts.
Eatman makes the sound point that Dallas would have to win a lot more games than it has the past two seasons for Prescott to enter the conversation.
Eatman writes: “Talented enough … of course. Good enough to put it all together … yes, to that as well. So it’s not about what Dak brings to the table, it’s what the rest of the table looks like that makes me wonder if he’s a ‘legitimate’ candidate or not.
”Let’s not mistake this for saying Dak can’t get the job done because it hasn’t happened yet. Ok great … Drew Brees and John Elway come to mind as quarterbacks that couldn’t win … until they did. But I do wonder if the Cowboys as a team are ready to take that big step along with Dak. Now, if he ends up carrying them to the finish line, then yes he absolutely will be recognized as such.
”You rarely see an MVP on a team that isn’t right there at the very top – and that’s where I’m getting at. I don’t know if the Cowboys have enough to jump from back-to-back 7-win seasons and be ready to compete for the conference title. But that’s probably what it’s going to take for Dak to get himself in the conversation. Yes, he’s good enough and I don’t doubt that at all. I just wonder if the supporting cast is good enough to get him over the hump.”
Dallas Cowboys roster
Dallas seems set with their 90-player roster as they head to camp, but there will always be speculation on what they can do to add someone in the next month. The Score’s Dan Wilkins projects a final move for all 32 teams and he thinks the Cowboys should trade for New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks.
Banks was a first-round pick in 2023 and has largely been a bust with the Giants.
Wilkins writes: “The Cowboys, like the Bengals, have made several notable defensive additions in hopes of putting last year’s horrifying results behind them. But I’d like to see them add more competition at corner. Ideally, they’d make a big splash for a star cover man, but money might be tight. Dallas is known for taking low-cost swings on former first-rounders, and Banks is worth a shot after a disappointing start to his career with the Giants.”
Dallas Cowboys preseason schedule
PRESEASON
Week 1: Aug 15 at Seattle Seahawks 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT
Week 2: Aug 22 at Arizona Cardinals 11 a.m. MT/noon CT
Week 3: Aug 29 vs. New Orleans Saints 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT
Dallas Cowboys tickets 2026
Seat Geek is the official partner of the Dallas Cowboys, so this is where to get official tickets. The Cowboys are also offering packages for the Week 3 game in Rio de Janeiro against the Ravens, ranging from $1,200 to $5,750. That doesn’t include airfare and the cheap rate doesn’t include a hotel.
Other places to buy tickets, which will be more expensive but with a much larger selection than the official tickets, include StubHub, TicketMaster and Vivid Seats. Those sites also offer tickets for away games.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: What key questions do the Dallas Cowboys face at training camp?
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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By Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
