The Dallas Cowboys' rookie minicamp started on May 1 and took place over the weekend. It gaves the rookies and undrafted free agents (UDFAs) a chance to showcase their abilities for the 90-man roster spot.

After the minicamp, Cowboys' head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, discussed the fitness level of the athletes with the Cowboys' media. He pointed out that several rookies struggled to stand out physically and keep up with the demands of training.

“None of these guys are in great shape right now,” Schottenheimer said. “You might have seen a few guys getting sick yesterday, a little bit of vomiting going on.”  

Schottenheimer noted that a major factor for their debilitated state might be the offseason vacation. Many rookies had not played real football for months and were traveling across the country.

Most of them had been focused on pro-day drills like 40-yard dashes rather than full-contact play. It showcased their struggles to keep up with the physical demands of NFL training regimens.

The sickness is more like a ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment, giving the rookies a reality check regarding the intensity of professional league practice sessions.

According to a report from Sporting News, this minicamp exposed the players who need additional physical training and conditioning before the regular season begins.

On the other hand, Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator (DC) Christian Parker were all praises for the first-round pick Caleb Downs, appreciating his ‘elite’ intelligence and character. 

Caleb Downs Earns Early Praise from Cowboys Coaches

Widely projected as a good fit in Parker’s 3-4 scheme, safety Caleb Downs had a good performance at the rookie minicamp on May 1. He received some early praise from the new defensive coordinator, as reported by Cowboys' writer Tommy Yarrish. 

“Premium instincts,” Parker stated. “You can tell his football intellect, the way he directs traffic out there, the way he reads and reacts, his brain is connected with his feet, it was constant.”

The Cowboys projected Downs as a ‘dream target’, as he recorded 257 total tackles, six interceptions, and defended 12 passes during his three-year collegiate career.

“He’s a natural football player. He’s one of those first picks in the school yard, so he’s going to have natural versatility, and it’s just a matter of what he can handle mentally and how we fit everything together,” Parker concluded.

Parker has emphasised having versatile players like Caleb Downs - who can play three positions on demand – nickel, safety, or linebacker- are a perfect fit in his defensive scheme. 

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Rishab Nandi