Training Camp Preview
Training camp is a place of optimism for fans. Teams are undefeated, and hopes are high for the season. For players, some are getting ready for the football season, and others are fighting each day to stick around. Here is what I am watching from every position group, starting with the Tight Ends and Running Backs.
Tight End Overview
Battle to Watch:
Does Brevyn Spann-Ford separate himself as TE2?
Biggest Question:
Can Jake Ferguson get back to his 2023 success? Or has that ship sailed?
Player Under the Most Pressure:
Luke Schoonmaker
Sleeper to Watch:
Michael Trigg
Jake Ferguson #87
Camp Storyline: Can Ferguson Limit Mistakes?
Where He Stands
We are now three years removed from his 2023 season full of career highs. He opened the 2024 season with a left knee sprain and has had a few other notable injuries. As for his play, the production has been limited. Now, of course, we can credit Lamb and Pickens for being the main targets of the offense. But total yards don’t tell the whole story.
Ferguson’s yards per catch have dropped, and if you watch his play, he is not creating a lot of additional yards or breaking through tackles. A huge concern is limiting his fumbles. Ferguson has 7 fumbles in the past two seasons; he led tight ends in that category while only appearing in 14 games in 2024.
Ferguson will be the starting TE in 2026, but another down year will cause the eyebrows to raise and more fans to question his future as the starter.
53-Man Outlook
★★★★★ – Roster lock
Brevyn Spann-Ford #89
Camp Storyline: Can Spann-Ford Be a Receiving Threat?
Where He Stands
Brevyn Spann-Ford is a name you need to learn for the 2026 season. He was brought in as an undrafted free agent in 2024, and his blocking ability helped get him a spot on the team. Last season, PFF graded him 13th (for TEs) in zone run-blocking.
But that’s not even what makes Brevyn a fun watch. Standing at 6’7″, he looks like a tree when he’s got his arms up in the end zone waiting for the ball. He caught his first touchdown last year and was targeted 13 times. He’s had a few concentration drops and needs to work on his pass-catching.
Many team analysts will say he’s surpassed Luke Schoonmaker as the 2nd tight end. Snap counts at the end of the year support that take. Spann-Ford needs to take the next step as a receiver and from there, the biggest question in camp: How far can he separate himself from Schoonmaker?
53-Man Outlook
★★★★★ – Roster lock
Luke Schoonmaker #86
Camp Storyline: Will Schoonmaker Make It Hard to Cut Him?
Where He Stands
Luke Schoonmaker is a name that many fans have already moved on from. But he sticks around this roster year after year. He is a veteran with good blocking ability but has underwhelming numbers as a pass catcher. He has been dropped to TE3 in many eyes, and may even be a camp cut if he’s not careful.
Going into the last year of his rookie contract, it would not cost much to move on from him. As Brevyn Spann-Ford is a developing player and already does the thing that keeps Schoonmaker around…the argument gets tougher for Luke.
He needs to shine as a veteran and be reliable, so the player personnel department can’t cut him. The Cowboys were burned last season, as they kept Luke over a developing prospect, Rivaldo Fairweather; sending Fairweather to the practice squad, the Arizona Cardinals swooped in and took him from the team.
53-Man Outlook
★★★☆☆ – On the bubble
Michael Trigg #46
Camp Storyline: Will Trigg Overcome the Learning Curve?
Where He Stands
One of the most exciting and followed stories going into training camp always revolves around the undrafted signing that fans feel is an absolute steal. Which can be the case for Trigg, the 6’4″ Baylor TE was viewed as a top-15 TE in last year’s draft, but fell out for some maturity concerns and practice habits.
Given that 21 tight ends were drafted, it’s not safe to say he would have been selected in the first three rounds regardless of the off-field concerns What we do know: He was a productive vertical threat at Baylor and played as a bigger wide receiver at times.
But when it comes to playing in the NFL, there is a learning curve, and not every rookie is ready to go from their very first practice. The benefit for Trigg? The players in front of him are not set in stone. There’s a chance he makes the 53-man roster, but the Cowboys will hope he hangs around on the practice squad at the very least.
53-Man Outlook
★★☆☆☆ – Longshot
Princeton Fant #85
Camp Storyline: Is Fants’ Time Fading?
Where He Stands
Princeton Fant has been able to stay around the Star year after year with his special teams ability and usually filling in as the backup fullback in practices. During games, he will play on kickoff coverage and returns. In 2025, he appeared in just one game.
If there is any chance left, he will need to show some value to keep around for his special teams component. Though the Cowboys are routinely bringing in new tight ends, which may indicate his time is coming to a close.
Fant has been a priority practice squad player in years past. But I wouldn’t be surprised if that designation has slowly slipped away.
53-Man Outlook
★☆☆☆☆ – Practice Squad candidate
DJ Rogers #49
Camp Storyline: How Can Rogers Stick Around?
Where He Stands
DJ Rogers’ name has been left out of many conversations and pushed down lists. A chance to self-scout, even my list has him as the last guy named, although he was signed at the same time as Michael Trigg.
Rogers was an undrafted TCU tight end this past year; he had a solid fifth year with the Horned Frogs, but he didn’t get the starting job until his final year. He is another athletic receiving TE with a chance to create yards.
Not every camp story can make the team, and there are only 16 practice squad spots. Hopefully this isn’t the last time we see Rogers, but there is a steep hill to climb.
53-Man Outlook
☆☆☆☆☆ – Outside looking in
My Projection
Depth Chart
- Jake Ferguson #87
- Brevyn Spann-Ford #89
- Luke Schoonmaker #86
Practice Squad
- Michael Trigg #46
- Princeton Fant #85
Misses the Cut
- DJ Rogers #49
Running Back Overview
Battle to Watch:
How many spots are even available?
Biggest Question:
Can Jaydon Blue secure a job?
Player Under the Most Pressure:
Jaydon Blue
Sleeper to Watch:
Phil Mafah
Javonte Williams #33
Camp Storyline: How Big of a Workload For Williams?
Where He Stands
Fresh off a 1200-yard season and a newly signed 3-year contract. There are high expectations for Javonte Williams. He was an underrated piece of the Cowboy offense last season. There is a positive outlook for him to have a repeat performance and hope that he doesn’t lose a step.
He has dealt with some injuries in his past; it may be difficult to trust that Williams can play all 17 games and continue to be the workhorse back. I think Williams getting to just 1,000 yards can be huge for the offense, assuming there are others to help take the workload off him.
Williams will get a lot of rest during preseason games as the rest of the running back room needs to be figured out. Hopefully for the season, Williams doesn’t have to carry this group as the bellcow again.
53-Man Outlook
★★★★★ – Roster lock
Jaydon Blue #23
Camp Storyline: Can Blue Get the Mental Game Right?
Where He Stands
Jaydon Blue could get an entire article dedicated to him on why this training camp is important. There is no player other than Blue whose biggest hurdle to jump is himself. If he shows all the right things at camp and picks up the playbook, he can be a valuable weapon to the 2026 offense. He has a great ability to be a pass catcher and can be the back who comes in and creates a spark.
Blue couldn’t find an active roster last year, and it wasn’t because of the talent ahead of him. Fans were calling for his name, but Williams and Miles Sanders started ahead of him. Sanders’ season ended early on with an injury, but Jaydon Blue still couldn’t get active. There were reports of him not being able to pick up the playbook and some maturity issues; one incident that is highlighted is him missing practice with foot blisters after wearing Louis Vuitton cleats. Not even mentioning the on-field issues, he had a fumbling problem at Texas, and it carried into the Denver game.
The Cowboys have not signed a veteran RB, nor have they made any moves to discourage Blue from a playing opportunity. But, if the issues of maturity persist, I can see coach Schottenheimer having low patience for that this season. So the ability to have playing time rests solely on Jaydon Blue.
53-Man Outlook
★★★★☆ – Likely makes the team
Phil Mafah #37
Camp Storyline: How Can Mafah Be Different?
Where He Stands
Phil Mafah has been growing as a fan favorite from last year’s training camp. He has a bruiser running style and draws some similarities to Javonte Williams. He was a rookie last season and was stashed on the practice squad.
This year, Mafah will need to stand out as he tries to make a push for the RB2 job. Running back is a position that can be filled by many different playing styles, but when you’re only keeping three or four players, it’s important to stand out. It’s nice to have an RB who can block, and one who can be fast, and one who can catch, and one who can get you a goal-line score. Can Mafah stand out? Or is he too redundant with Javonte Williams?
Mafah can take the next step and get on the roster, but as mentioned, this is a numbers game. One thing that may hold him off the roster depends on how many RBs the Cowboys will take into the season. If it’s Williams, Blue, and the fullback Luepke… that’s already three. Is there room for a fourth? That depends on what the outlook is at other positions.
53-Man Outlook
★★★☆☆ – On the bubble
Malik Davis #20
Camp Storyline: Is Davis the Security Blanket?
Where He Stands
Malik Davis has been around the Cowboys for a few years now, even predating the Schottenheimer offense. He was called up to the roster last year to play in 10 games, spelling Javonte Williams at times. He had the longest rushing touchdown for Dallas (43 yards) last year against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving.
He played important snaps last year, which is fascinating since he wasn’t on the Cowboys roster during this time last year. The Cowboys cut Davis after they drafted two rookie backs (Blue & Mafah), and it surprised fans why they brought him back in August for preseason games. Turns out the rookies weren’t ready.
Unfortunately, Davis making the 53-man roster means bad news for the sophomore running backs that Dallas had hope for. Davis will likely be a practice squad guy or maybe even a guy they keep on speed-dial for November.
53-Man Outlook
★☆☆☆☆ – Practice Squad candidate
Israel Abanikanda #30
Camp Storyline: Will Abanikanda Raise Enough Eyebrows?
Where He Stands
Israel Abanikanda is a shifty speedster; at 5’10”, he was drafted and played for the Jets in 2023. He was signed to the Cowboys practice squad in November of last year, which notably Dallas was trying to figure out the position.
The big challenge is finding things he can do for Dallas in 2026. He will need to work to contribute on special teams and one way a running back can show value to stick around is by being a good pass blocker.
While getting on the practice squad may be a challenge. It will depend on how they play out the Malik Davis spot. Abanikanda will need to show out just enough for the front office to keep his name in mind.
53-Man Outlook
★☆☆☆☆ – Practice Squad candidate
Dominic Richardson #43
Camp Storyline: Will Richardson Stick Around?
Where He Stands
Dominic Richardson will focus on keeping his name alive. The goal should be to stay in conversations among the player personnel department and honestly being relevant enough that 31 other teams could take a look at him.
He was a 6-year undrafted running back from Tulsa, also spending time at Oklahoma State and Baylor. Guys like him are looking to stay in the NFL and find a home. He will have an opportunity in preseason games.
This running back group is super deep and there are young players that the Cowboys are already invested in. But gaining a futures contract with Dallas and being able to hang around the team would be beneficial.
53-Man Outlook
☆☆☆☆☆ – Outside looking in
Hunter Luepke #40
Camp Storyline: Do the Cowboys Still Need a FB?
Where He Stands
Hunter Luepke signed an extension last offseason and has two years left on his deal. When he was signed, I assumed that the fullback position was going to be a big focus in the Brian Schottenheimer offense. But, that didn’t always seem to be the case. The Cowboys run a lot of 11 (1 RB, 1 TE) and 12 (1 RB, 2 TE) personnel. We didn’t always see a lot of use for the fullback in the offense.
Now Luepke makes himself useful by being an all-time special teams leader and the punt protector. I thought he would be utilized as an extra tight end but now with three solid tight ends…it gets harder to find him a job. Luepke is a strong player in the receiving game. He is also an effective pass blocker, but Javonte Williams can pass block, so there’s no need to have him on the field for that always.
For me, Luepke is valuable enough to keep a roster spot and jersey for him on Sundays. This is what makes the running back room a challenge as he could take one of those spots, with potentially as light as 2 other spots open. If Luepke doesn’t make the team…it’s because Dallas, like many other NFL teams, is moving on from the fullback position.
53-Man Outlook
★★★★☆ – Likely makes the team
My Projection
Depth Chart
Halfback
- Javonte Williams #33
- Jaydon Blue #23
- Phil Mafah #37
Fullback
- Hunter Luepke #40
Practice Squad
- Malik Davis #20
- Israel Abanikanda #30
Misses the Cut
- Dominic Richardson #43
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