Cowboys and Rams to hold joint practice: What to watch for

The Dallas Cowboys have been in full pads at training camp in Oxnard, California for about a week now. The pads have been popping, and have even resulted in a few friendly scuffles between teammates.

Well, now the Cowboys can put their sibling rivalries to rest and band together to take on players with different colored jerseys for the first time since January. The Los Angeles Rams will share the practice field with the Cowboys this coming Thursday.

I know it’s not a regular season game or even a preseason game, but it’s football and the Cowboys get to knock heads with an opposing team. This should get you excited! We are that much closer to the games that matter.

If you remember joint practice between these two teams over the past couple of years, you know that it got spicy. Unfortunately for the Rams, their enforcer will likely not be in attendance, and if he is, he will be in street clothes. I’m speaking of DT Aaron Donald, of course.

Donald retired this offseason, capping off a stellar career, and leaving a void in the middle of the Rams defense. Can anyone else step into that role so we can get some action after the whistle this Thursday?

Here are just a few things to look for this Thursday when the Cowboys and Rams face off in a controlled practice environment.

Star Wide Receivers Will Be Missing

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you already know that the Cowboys’ star wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb, has yet to report to the team as he awaits a much deserved contract extension that will make him one of the top paid players at his position.

News from this morning as reported by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter let us know that the Rams will also be without one of their star wide receivers. Puka Nacua, the standout rookie 5th-round pick, is reportedly week to week with a knee injury suffered in practice.

As far as the Cowboys go, we will still see Brandin Cooks lead the wide receivers on the field, supported by Jalen Tolbert, who looks poised for a breakout season after a quiet first two years with the team.

Tolbert has been catching everything in sight, including the attention of his quarterback, Dak Prescott, along with the coaching staff and his teammates.

Surely, we will also see plenty of KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks, Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Racey McMath, and current camp superstar Tyron Billy-Johnson.

The Rams still have Cooper Kupp, who showed he was a superstar in his own right before Nacua’s arrival.

How Will the Rookies Fare?

The Cowboys drafted seven players in the 2024 NFL Draft and added several more through undrafted free agency. Here are the top players I’m anxious to see fare against the Rams.

Tyler Guyton

Tyler Guyton is the Cowboys 1st-round pick, and he comes in with some unfair expectations from the fanbase. Not only is Guyton a rookie, but he is also switching from the right side of the offense to the left side.

Protecting Dak Prescott’s blindside is no small task, and Guyton would do well with some live reps against players from a different team. One could argue that going up against Micah Parsons every day is enough of a challenge, but it will be good to see him combat some different techniques.

We will likely see him go against fellow 1st-round pick DE Jared Verse, whom the Rams selected with the 19th overall pick.

Marist Liufau

It’s time to get excited, Cowboys Nation. It appears the Cowboys have found the linebacker we have been hoping to get for years now. Marist Liufau, the Cowboys 3rd-round pick, has impressed at training camp.

Liufau has taken advantage of starter Eric Kendricks’ sore back with more practice reps. He is quick to diagnose plays and attack the football without hesitation. He is physical at the point of attack, and violent when he gets his hands on the ball carrier.

The bottom line is Liufau is mean and brings an attitude to the defense that it has sorely lacked for several years now. I can’t wait to see how he does versus the Rams rushing attack.

Caelen Carson

According to training camp reports, 5th-round pick Caelen Carson has been a revelation at cornerback in camp. He is miles ahead of his development and is showing why many scouts had him graded in the third round.

Trevon Diggs is still being worked back slowly into team drills, so it’s possible the Cowboys hold him out of the joint practice with the Rams. Carson would likely take his place on the boundary.

I’m hoping for some quality reps against Cooper Kupp to really show us where Carson stands among the NFL’s elite.

Other Players to Watch

There will be so much going on at practice. All members of the media will be posting to their social media pages updating any big plays or other observations at a mile a minute.

It will be difficult to keep up with everything, but I’m hoping we hear good things from the following players:

Mazi Smith

Mazi Smith isn’t a rookie, but he might as well be after the rookie season he had last year. We have all heard about his weight loss and inability to get off the snap in a timely manner.

It appears those flaws have been corrected. Mazi is reportedly back over 310 pounds at the start of camp, and his get off at the snap is much improved. Hopefully, he can win some battles versus the interior of the Rams offensive line.

Brock Hoffman

One of the starting positions still in limbo for the Cowboys is the center position. Brock Hoffman is currently the favorite to win the job, but is being pushed by rookie 3rd-round pick Cooper Beebe.

Beebe is struggling with his technique, and Hoffman is reaping the benefits. Maybe Hoffman can do just enough to keep the rookie at bay, and it starts with a good performance versus the interior of the Rams defensive line.

Aaron Donald is gone, but the Rams drafted another player that could be just as disruptive. The Rams selected DT Braden Fiske in the 2nd round of the draft, and Hoffman will have his hands full with him.

Jalen Tolbert

Like I mentioned before, Jalen Tolbert has been turning heads at training camp with his increased level of play.

The Cowboys have a strong secondary led by Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, and Tolbert has made plays against both of them during practice.

I’m anxious to see what he can do versus a Rams secondary that just added veteran and former Pro Bowler Tre’Davious White.