Dallas Cowboys Joint Practice Takeaways as Defense Dominates Rams

The Dallas Cowboys defensive performance was one of the key takeaways from their joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams.

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker (left) with head coach Brian Schottenheimer at training camp. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Tuesday brought some welcome change for the Dallas Cowboys as they were able to take the field against a different team for the first time this offseason. Dallas headed to Woodland Hills to take on the Los Angeles Rams at their facility in a joint practice.

These joint practices have become very popular with NFL head coaches and players saying they get more from these sessions than they do any preseason game. That's why head coach Brian Schottenheimer hardly plays starters in the preseason, instead giving them their practice reps in controlled atmospheres such as the one they were in against L.A.

Cameras weren't allowed, so information was limited, but beat reporters on site were able to give us plenty of insight to the day's events. With their help, here's a roundup of the biggest takeaways from the day.

Defense looks vastly improved

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker at training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

One thing that stood out to Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News was how much better the defense looked. While the starting offense had its issues, Hoyt said the defense held their own. He stated the Cowboys looked "shellshocked" by the Rams' offense in 2025 and despite giving up one big play to Puka Nacua, he said they "held up very well."

He added that while Nacua beat Shavon Revel for a decent gain, the Dallas defensive back also made a great stop by catching up to Nacua on a deep route and forcing an incompletion. That's a huge win for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who is being tasked with fixing one of the league's worst defenses from a year ago.

Parker's solid work continued with the reserves taking over as the Dallas defense had multiple turnovers, stuffs in the run game, and pass deflections. Overall, it was a huge win for Parker and a momentum builder for the defense.

Cowboys EDGE battle heating up

Dallas Cowboys EDGE Isaiah Land goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After moving from linebacker to EDGE this offseason, Marist Liufau is beginning to make some noise at his new position. His ascension continued on Tuesday as Liufau recorded an early sack while working with the backups.

He wasn't alone, however, with Isaiah Land also recording a sack while stuffing a run for no gain as well. Land was an undrafted free agent addition in 2023 but left in 2024 to join the Indianapolis Colts. He re-signed this offseason and while he's a longshot to make the roster, he's making sure he doesn't go down without a fight.

Linebackers putting on a show

Cowboys linebacker Justin Barron stretching on the field before practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Dee Winters has been a forgotten man in Dallas with rookie Jaishawn Barham stealing all of the attention. Winters made sure to remind everyone he could play during the joint practice which included a great stop against Blake Corum in the run game. According to Patrik Walker, Winters showed excellent speed and recognition to shut down the play for a short loss.

Another linebacker who has been overlooked is Justin Barron, an UDFA from Syracuse in 2025. A converted safety, Barron showed off his coverage skills against Los Angeles while recording three interceptions. He was also active against the run, picking up a couple of stops.

Jaydon Blue slips up

Dallas Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Second-year running back Jaydon Blue has been turning heads throughout camp and seemingly had the inside track on the RB2 job. He might have hurt his chances against Los Angeles, however, as Blue had an early fumble. It's not the end of the world, but with Phil Mafah playing as well as he has, Blue has very limited room for error, making this a noticeable mistake.

Quick hits:

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

• George Pickens was dominant with multiple highlight-reel receptions
• Josh Butler stood out and reminded everyone why he was a hot name in 2024
• Caleb Downs spent more time in a traditional safety role than expected and played well

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