The Cowboys’ first official training camp practice took place Wednesday.
A lot has happened since the Cowboys reported to camp Tuesday afternoon.
Mostly good, but some uncertainties are also in the water.
Let’s start with the good news first.
Trevon Diggs
Trevon Diggs and the Cowboys agreed on a 5-year contract extension with $97M. So glad this deal got done.
The Pro Bowler and All-Pro is now ranked the fifth highest-paid corner in the league with a $19.4 million average annual salary.
Big props to the Cowboys, who kept this news quiet over the last several months.
When you look at the overall breakdown, it makes out as a three-year deal.
Great job by the Cowboys’ front office. Take a look at the tweet below.
A breakdown of Trevon Diggs’ deal
6 years, $104.3 million max
Bonus: $21.25 million
2023 – $1.054m
2024 – $11m
2025 – $9m
2026 – $14.5m
2027 – $19.5m
2028 – $20mActive roster bonuses totaling $1m from 2024-28. He can make an additional $600k per year through escalators.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 26, 2023
I thought maybe CeeDee Lamb would come first, but it makes me think they are also working on his. Great news!
Terence Steele
Terence Steele received the green light Tuesday to not start training camp on the PUP list.
Some more awesome news!
Steele has been recovering from surgery on his torn ACL and MCL of the left knee, which happened in week 14 of last season.
Steele being healthy for the start of the 2023 season is hugely beneficial for the offensive side of the ball.
Tony Pollard was also 100% cleared, but we had already been told that before this week. Steele came as a surprise.
Both being ready to go is fantastic.
Cowboys RT Terence Steele (ACL, MCL, MPFL) has been cleared for the start of training camp. He won’t start on the PUP list.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) July 25, 2023
USFL standout
The Cowboys signed ex-USFL standout Josh Butler.
Butler played for the Michigan Panthers and played his college ball at Michigan State.
After five seasons with the Spartans, he finished his career with 25 games played, producing 52 tackles (35 solo) and 11 pass deflections.
He adds depth to an already excellent cornerback room.
Butler may not make the 53-man roster once they cut it from 90, but you never know!
With the most important good news out of the way, let’s transition to the more unfortunate information that has come out this week.
Zack Martin
It starts with Zack Martin. Let’s be honest on both sides.
Does he need to attend training camp while unhappy about his contract? No, he is among the league’s best and will be ready.
On the same token, though, he is one of this team’s most significant leaders and team captains.
I would love him to be there.
As the best offensive guard in football, he should be paid like it.
At Tuesday’s Cowboys news conference, owner and general manager Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones would not get into where things stand with Martin’s contract or his absence at the start of camp.
Cowboys’ six-time All-Pro guard and team captain Zack Martin, who has been unhappy about the team’s lack of interest in restructuring his contract, did not report for the start of training camp, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 25, 2023
Luke Schoonmaker
Luke Schoonmaker is on the active/non-football injury list for the start of training camp.
NFI list rather than PUP tells us Schoonmaker’s foot issue happened before the NFL draft or suffered afterward while he was away from the team.
That is not the ideal news for the player Dallas drafted in the second round.
Dalton Schultz is gone, and someone will have to step up.
I trust Jake Ferguson, but it would have been nice to have all the guys in the tight-end room ready to compete for the job in camp.
Donovan Wilson
Donovan Wilson was diagnosed with a right calf strain that could keep him out 4-6 weeks.
Early reports do so they should be able to return in time for the season opener against the Giants on Sept. 10.
He left the first training camp practice early on a cart after limping to the medical tent and being tended to by trainers.
Other news
Jourdan Lewis starts training camp on the PUP list.
Lewis ended last season on IR due to a Lisfranc injury, and honestly his future could be in doubt.
Michael Gallup says he is back to 100% mentally, mind over matter. The hardest thing thing getting over an injury can be the mental aspect.
You know the injury is healed, but your mind won’t let you forget what happened, so you don’t trust it enough.
Glad he’s back!
Football is back, and man I’m excited.
