What issues are the Cowboys facing as camp approaches?

FRISCO, Texas — Subsequent week, the Dallas Cowboys will begin coaching camp in Oxnard, California, with optimism that 2022 is not going to finish like 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 … you get the image.

It has been greater than a month because the Cowboys had any offseason work from their necessary minicamp that turned out to be only one follow. Since then, the excellent news is that the Cowboys haven’t had a participant have any off-field problem that might put their begin to coaching camp in jeopardy.

However there have been some tales that should be addressed because the Cowboys head to California.

What’s subsequent for Dalton Schultz? The tight finish will play the season on the $10.9 million franchise tag after not reaching an settlement on a long-term deal by the July 15 deadline. There was little hope a deal can be reached earlier than the Cleveland Browns signed David Njoku to a $13.7 million-a-year deal in Could and even much less after it.

Schultz skipped the ultimate week of voluntary organized crew actions and was a restricted participant within the one minicamp follow in hopes of jump-starting talks. It didn’t actually work. As a result of he signed the tender supply, he has to indicate up for coaching camp or he will likely be fined.

What’s greatest for Schultz is to have one other productive season, which might occur given the standing of the Cowboys’ huge receiver group, and see what occurs in 2023. The Cowboys might all the time give him the franchise tag once more, which might value greater than $13 million. In the event that they don’t, he may have an opportunity to hit the open market and get the long-term deal he needs.

Dak’s well being points behind him: A yr in the past, the Cowboys knew they needed to monitor quarterback Dak Prescott’s coaching camp work as he returned from a dislocation and fracture of his proper ankle. Little did they know a proper latissimus pressure would sideline him for many of coaching camp and the 4 preseason video games.

The ankle will not be a priority. Neither is his non-throwing shoulder after he had surgical procedure in February. And neither is the suitable calf pressure that restricted him final season, too.

“A few weeks out and I’m in the most effective form that I’ve ever been in,” Prescott advised reporters at his youth soccer camp. “So, it’s time to ramp it up and get going.”

The Cowboys will lean on Prescott like they by no means have leaned on him earlier than. No, to not run it a ton. They want him to lift the extent of play of these round him, particularly at receiver and particularly throughout Michael Gallup’s absence from knee surgical procedure.

What else does the crew want? Cap house will not be a problem. The Cowboys have greater than $22 million in salary-cap room in the meanwhile, however a few of that’s put aside for the follow squad, harm settlements and incentives/escalators earned in the course of the season.

Most of it is going to be carried over to 2023.

However again to the personnel. Vast receiver is a place to look at, however a commerce for a giant title, like Deebo Samuel or DK Metcalf, is unlikely. What about signing a veteran, like Julio Jones? He’s a bit of outdated (33) and injured currently. Cross-rusher? Get according to each different crew within the league. Linebacker? They’ve added depth items however received’t be available in the market for a starter. Backup middle? Matt Farniok enters camp as Tyler Biadasz’s backup. Guard Connor McGovern might will get a glance, and second-year middle Braylon Jones has some followers within the constructing.

Harm updates: Gallup was believed to be a bit of forward of schedule on the finish of minicamp, however he’s prone to miss not less than a few video games in September. That was all the time the considering even earlier than he re-signed to a five-year deal in March. He’ll probably begin coaching camp on the bodily unable to carry out record, which isn’t too regarding. If he’s on that record to begin the season, then that may be a priority as a result of he would miss not less than the primary 4 video games.

Linebacker Jabril Cox can also be getting back from a torn ACL in his proper knee. He was shifting properly in June, and the idea is he’ll have the ability to follow firstly of camp. Rookie linebacker Damone Clark will open camp on the non-football harm record after present process neck surgical procedure within the spring. If he performs in any respect this season, it received’t be till November.

Kicker battle: Nothing is sort of as thrilling as a kicking competitors in coaching camp. OK, that’s an exaggeration, however there will likely be plenty of eyes on Jonathan Garibay and Lirim Hajrullahu in Oxnard.

Final yr’s kicker, Greg Zuerlein, didn’t kick as soon as in 2021 coaching camp as a result of he was coming off again surgical procedure.

Hajrullahu kicked in a single recreation for the Cowboys final yr, making all 5 of his further factors with seven touchbacks. In two video games with the Carolina Panthers, he went 4-of-5 on area aim makes an attempt, 8-of-8 on further factors and had 12 touchbacks on 17 kickoffs.

Garibay, undrafted out of Texas Tech, displayed a powerful leg within the offseason program and enters camp because the chief within the clubhouse.