6 Cowboys Already on Thin Ice in Training Camp

As is always the case, there's been no shortage of drama with the Dallas Cowboys during training camp.

CeeDee Lamb is holding out as he aims for a new deal as Dak Prescott and the front office go back and forth on their contract negotiations — while Jerry and Stephen Jones continue to use the media to explain why paying market value is so hard. Despite their claims, every other quarterback under the sun seems to be getting signed.

All of this drama makes it tough to focus on what's truly important — the play on the field. Of course, it's still early but there's already been a lot to follow during camp. With close to one week done, let's check in and identify six players already on thin ice.

6. Damien Wilson, Linebacker

Damien Wilson is on his second stint with the Cowboys. He was selected out of Minnesota in 2015 and spent four years in Dallas. He had 121 tackles and 2.5 sacks in a reserve role and broke out with the Kansas City Chiefs. He re-joined former teammate Anthony Hitchens as the two won a title together in 2019.

Wilson had 154 tackles in two seasons and then recorded 106 in 2021 for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He reverted to a reserve role with Carolina in 2022 but was released ahead of the 2023 season. He spent the year without a team, eventually signing with Dallas in January of 2024. He was on the practice squad for their one playoff game and then re-signed in April.

Perhaps he has more in the tank but it won't be easy to prove that in Dallas. Wilson is fighting for a reserve role behind Damone Clark and Eric Kendricks. The third starter will be between Marist Liufau and DeMarvion Overshown. From there, Wilson has to beat out Willie Harvey and Jason Johnson. It won't be easy, especially with Johnson's strong start to camp.

5. Peyton Hendershot, Tight End

Undrafted out of Indiana in 2022, Peyton Hendershot made the Cowboys' 53-man roster as a rookie. There were reasons to be excited about him as a receiving prospect off the bench and he made an impact during his first season.

Hendershot had 11 receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. He was also given the ball once on a handoff and took that in for a two-yard touchdown.

In his second season, Hendershot wasn't seen as much. Even with Dalton Schultz leaving in free agency, Hendershot remained the third tight end after the Cowboys selected Luke Schoonmaker in the second round out of Michigan. He saw just one target in the first three games and then ended up on the IR with an ankle injury.

Hendershot returned from IR and played in the final five games. He had an impressive 24-yard reception in the finale against Washington but finished with just 38 yards on four catches.

Entering his third season, there's still a chance Hendershot makes good on his potential but it will be hard to do this in Dallas. The top spots are locked up with Jake Ferguson and Schoonmaker. They could decide to keep four tight ends but Hendershot has to beat out undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford and 2023 preseason star John Stephens, Jr.

Last year, Stephens appeared set to make the team before suffering an ACL tear. He's back and looks healthy, which means he should be able to earn himself a spot.

Spann-Ford was signed to a contract with a hefty bonus and is a better blocker than Stephens and Hendershot. That could be his ticket to the team should they keep four tight ends.

4. Royce Freeman, Running Back

The running back situation is far from figured out in Dallas. The return of Ezekiel Elliott could be a good thing — if they understand what he brings at this point in his career. Zeke, who hasn't averaged above four yards per rushing attempt since 2021, is still a solid option as a short-yardage back. He doesn't break long runs but he rarely loses yards. He also proved in 2022 that he can find the end zone as he ran 12 touchdowns for the Cowboys.

If a team had a solid No. 1 back, Zeke could be a great short-yardage option off the bench. But there's no legitimate No. 1 back in Big D. And Jerry Jones lives in his own world — a world where Patrick Mahomes is an option quarterback and Jerry is just like Mahomes. Also in that world, Elliott is still a starting running back.

Zeke is a lock to make the team and the Cowboys will likely keep three other backs. Rico Dowdle should be there and it seems as though Hunter Luepke might stick around as a fullback/halfback mix. That means Royce Freeman and Deuce Vaughn are fighting for a spot.

At this point, Freeman has put up better career numbers but he has a major problem — he doesn't offer anything they won't have in Elliott and even Luepke. Freeman is a 230-pounder who was decent in 2023 but had two years of futility before that.

Vaughn offers something more — plus he's been used in the return game. There's also a chance the Joneses will finally see the light and add a running back either through trade or via waivers before Week 1. Whatever the plan, it's hard to see Freeman as part of it.

3. Nahshon Wright, Cornerback

The Cowboys have been good for the most part in the NFL Draft but when they reach for a player, they really reach.

That was the case in 2017 when they took Taco Charlton in the first round despite T.J. Watt being on the board. Former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli was adamant Charlton was the better fit in their scheme — although he should have known a scheme that couldn't find a spot for a gifted pass rusher is a problem.

They again reached in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft for Trysten Hill thanks to Marinelli.

We can't blame all the reaches on Marinelli, however, since it still happened after his departure. Take 2021 for instance when Dallas used the 99th overall selection on Oregon State's Nahshon Wright. Thankfully it wasn't a Day 1 selection but they still used a top-100 pick on a guy who was projected in the fifth round — or later.

Wright had a strong believer in Dan Quinn, who was enamored with his 6-foot-4 frame. Unfortunately, the cornerback never truly developed and saw his usage in the base defense drop to just seven percent in 2023. After the first couple of practices this year, he's in danger of not making the team.

The fourth-year defensive back was struggling in coverage throughout the first couple of practices, and it wasn't a household name beating him either.

Tyron Billy-Johnson had his way with Wright on an out pattern at one point and a crossing route later.

He even beat Wright on a deep pass from Dak Prescott. All of these plays were huge for Billy-Johnson but could be detrimental for Wright.

2. Trey Lance, Quarterback

The Cowboys sent a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers last year in exchange for Trey Lance. The third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State, Lance was the starter for the Niners to begin the 2022 season. An ankle injury ended his season and required two surgeries to repair.

While he was out, Brock Purdy took the reins and never let them go. He's continued to shine and led San Francisco to the Super Bowl while Lance is still waiting to make his first preseason appearance in Dallas.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said the team will feature Lance heavily in training camp and the preseason. Speculation has run rampant that this could be due to their ongoing contract negotiations with Dak Prescott — which Jerry and Stephen Jones seem determined to screw up. The truth is, that they're probably hoping he will perform well enough to flip him for another pick.

It's still early in camp but the first day wasn't promising for Lance. He had several overthrows as he looked uncomfortable in the offense. He also threw an ugly pick trying to force a pass to Deuce Vaughn in coverage.

Lance will have plenty of time to turn things around but the early returns are concerning. He was already someone who entered this season with more questions than answers. As he approaches free agency in 2025, Lance needs a strong showing this preseason to convince a team to give him a chance.

This poor start isn't what he needed.

1. Mike McCarthy, Head Coach

When the Cowboys announced Mike McCarthy as their head coach in 2020, it left a lot to be desired.

McCarthy has a Super Bowl win on his resume but it's been a long time since he was seen as an elite coach, leaving fans less than thrilled about his future prospects. Making his selection feel more hollow was the fact that Jerry Jones seemed to settle on McCarthy from the start — similar to his approach when it came to hiring Mike Zimmer as the defensive coordinator.

Now as we enter his fifth season with the Cowboys, it's hard not to feel bad for McCarthy. He's led the Cowboys to 12 wins in each of the past three seasons but the team has been awful in the playoffs. That led to Jones deciding against an extension, sending McCarthy into the season as a lame duck coach.

To make matters worse, Jones has had no problem allowing the idea of Bill Belichick taking over next year to float around. He even kept it alive on the first day of camp when he wouldn't rule out brining the former New England coach on board. Instead, he decided to call him a great friend and praise his coaching.

Even before camp kicked off, there were reports that McCarthy has grown frustrated with Jones. It's understandable since listening to Jones talk can be frustrating. Throw in Stephen Jones trying to low ball every free agent — and in-house extension candidate — and it has to be downroght infuriating.

Having said that, it's clear McCarthy is on the thinnest of ice right now. The Jones family is looking for any reason to move on after this season — and McCarthy is going to have to win them over while also dealing with the drama they caused in their awful negotiations with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.

It's tough to watch but looking at the way Jones has operated in the past, McCarthy should have seen this coming.

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