Make that five Dallas Cowboys practices in the book at training camp in Oxnard, California. Here’s what we learned on Tuesday following the Cowboys’ second padded practice of the year. From a key battle announcement to a player kicked out of practice and more, let’s dive in.

The left tackle ‘competition’ is over

Schottenheimer announced earlier this offseason that Guyton and Thomas would battle for the starting left tackle job. At the time, it raised eyebrows. Why was a former first-round pick competing with a former seventh-round pick? I even got worried about Guyton when Schottenheimer made the announcement.

Then upon further review, it felt like a motivation tactic. And after Tuesday’s practice, the fifth of training camp and only the second in pads, we got confirmation. Schottenheimer declared Guyton the winner.

Here’s my thinking. You don’t declare a winner one padded practice into camp if it was ever supposed to be a real open competition. Especially not one that was going to be decided in the trenches. That was never going to happen. Tyler Guyton was the overwhelming favorite to win any battle for the left tackle spot unless Dallas was going to explore moving Tyler Smith from left guard to left tackle.

I don’t hate the decision. I think Guyton is clearly better than Thomas, and what he needs most is reps. Consistency will only come through repetition, and he’s going to get that only if he’s treated like the starter from the jump. Ironically, Thomas still got some first-team reps during Tuesday’s practice but that was because Guyton had a sore  elbow. But the message is clear.

Maybe Schottenheimer lied to us about this being a competition. Maybe not. The point is, I think the Cowboys are doing the right thing here.

Schottenheimer kicks player out of Cowboys practice

Another takeaway from Tuesday: Schottenheimer is keeping culture a priority. He kicked Cowboys edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku out of practice after an exchange with a teammate. Patrik Walker (dallascowboys.com) noted the exchange appeared to be with Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele, though Nick Harris (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)suggested it involved tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford. The specifics are a little unclear, but the result wasn’t.

Ezeiruaku is a second-year edge rusher who needs reps and needs to show the Cowboys he can step up. Instead, he’s feeling the consequences of Schottenheimer’s zero-tolerance approach to training camp fights.

This isn’t new. Do you remember last year when Schottenheimer went viral in Oxnard because he was showing out the team after multiple fights broke out during practice? He doesn’t want any of that. He knows fighting in practice can affect the team on an actual regular season game day, so he wants to eliminate it. Period. Removing Ezeiruaku early was evidence of that commitment.

Christian Parker is getting creative with the pass rush

This might be my favorite development so far. I think defensive coordinator Christian Parker is willing to get as creative as possible to generate pass rush, and that would be massive for the Cowboys defense.

Here’s what we know: the Cowboys do not have a star pass rusher on the edge. Quinnen Williams is a very good pass rusher on the interior, but the outside is a different story. Parker appears ready to be a blitz-happy coordinator for Dallas in 2025. The Eagles, where Parker comes from, were 22nd in blitz rate under their previous staff, per MatchQuarters’ data. I think Parker is going to crank up those numbers now that he’s calling the shots.

On Tuesday, we saw more examples of the Cowboys dropping one or two outside linebackers into coverage and using an inside linebacker to generate pressure. Whether it’s extra rushers or simulated pressures designed to confuse the quarterback, Parker is manufacturing pressure.

One play in particular stood out. Shamar James blitzed, and while Dak Prescott had open targets, James was right in Prescott’s vision cone. That forced Prescott to hold the ball a beat longer. That’s the result of Parker’s scheme, and it’s exciting.

Terence Steele does a great job of walling off Ezeiruaku on this play, but Shemar James deletes Dak’s eyeline to force him through progression.

by that time, Kenny Clark [edit] was already in his lap. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/jcIeA8A0zq

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) August 4, 2026

I want to see more of it. I think this approach is going to pay dividends for the Cowboys down the road.

Today’s risers: Jadyon Blue and Cobie Durant

Last but not least, running back Jaydon Blue continues to rise. He caught a screen pass that went for a big gain, and when Blue gets into open space, he can turn up the speed. The Cowboys have talked about Blue as a potential third-down back, and we know he’s fast running the football. But he also needs to be a legitimate threat in the passing game and a reliable pass protector who can stay in and pick up a blitz on passing downs.

So far, he appears to be doing both things right. Blue continues to climb at training camp, at least early on.

I’ll also shout out cornerback Cobie Durant, who had another pass breakup deep down the field. For now, those are the notes from Cowboys training camp practice No. 5. We’ll see what practice No. 6 brings on Thursday after a day off for the Cowboys on Wednesday.