FRISCO, Texas — Caleb Downs is the only player the Dallas Cowboys list at defensive back. He is also the second punt returner. Both listings come off the unofficial depth chart Dallas released Tuesday, five days before the opener at the New York Giants.
Dallas took Downs 11th overall in April out of Ohio State. Behind him at punt returner sits Jonathan Mingo. KaVontae Turpin is first at both return spots, with Malik Davis second on kickoffs. Turpin caught 26 passes for 396 yards in 15 games last season.
Downs returned punts for touchdowns in college at both of his schools, one at Alabama as a freshman and one at Ohio State. During training camp in Oxnard he caught punts and worked as a backup personal protector on the punt team while taking almost all of his defensive reps at nickel.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer showed the team two clips before the second practice of training camp on July 30: a minicamp rep where CeeDee Lamb beat Downs on a quick out, and the same route run against Downs the following day.
“Caleb gloved him,” Schottenheimer said. “And it was to the point that [I made to the team] about Caleb: He doesn’t repeat mistakes.”
Malik Hooker And P.J. Locke Carry An ‘Or’ Designation At Safety
Malik Hooker and P.J. Locke carry an “or” designation at one safety spot. Jalen Thompson is the other starter there, and Markquese Bell and Alijah Clark are behind him. Hooker started 12 games in 2025. At cornerback, DaRon Bland starts, Caelen Carson is second, and Ameer Speed is third. The second “or” on the chart sits opposite him, between Cobie Durant and Shavon Revel Jr. Bland started 12 games last season and had 1 interception.
Christian Parker is in his first season as Dallas defensive coordinator. The Cowboys allowed 511 points last season, the most in the NFL. They finished 7-9-1.
Six Rookies Made The Dallas Cowboys 53-Man Roster
Downs is one of six rookies Dallas kept, and all six appear on the chart. Malachi Lawrence, the No. 23 overall pick, is listed behind Donovan Ezeiruaku at outside linebacker, and third-round pick Jaishawn Barham is behind Dee Winters inside. LT Overton backs up Quinnen Williams. At left tackle it is Drew Shelton behind Tyler Guyton. Undrafted receiver Camden Brown is behind George Pickens. Ezeiruaku had 2.0 sacks in nine starts as a rookie last season.
Dallas used both of its first-round picks on defense. Schottenheimer said the defense Parker is running is built on speed at every level.
“I think they’ll do that. I think the play style has been evident throughout the preseason without our vets,” Schottenheimer explained. “I think the one thing that, if you talk to CP about, the play style is real. We’ve got speed at every level. Jalen Thompson’s fast; Dee Winters, maybe he’s one of the fastest linebackers in the league. He can really run. Demo, obviously great speed. So when you have these athletic edge pieces, that’s one of the reasons why you invest in a guy like Malachi Lawrence, and all that.”
Fourth-round cornerback Devin Moore, taken 114th, is on injured reserve, and seventh-round receiver Anthony Smith, taken 218th, did not make the roster. Kickoff at MetLife Stadium is 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC.
