FRISCO, Texas — Caleb Downs intercepted a pass late in Tuesday’s practice at The Star. Two Dallas Cowboys teammates brought it up unprompted at separate podiums afterward.
DeMarvion Overshown said Christian Parker has let the defense play fast by putting players in the right calls and testing them in meeting rooms until everyone knows what the other ten are doing.
“He’s a baller. Look, I’m glad that people got to see it that haven’t been paying attention to the media or whatever people his teammates been talking about him,” Overshown said. “He’s a student of the game and he wanted to do great his rookie year. So we pushed him to that and he’s accepted that he wanna be great. So seeing him make a play like that, that’s gonna be common.”
What Caleb Downs Has Done In Camp
Downs has taken reps at nickel and at safety since camp opened in Oxnard. He lined up off the edge, in the box, and deep in the secondary on the first day and recovered a fumble forced by Rashan Gary on Phil Mafah. He won a one-on-one rep against CeeDee Lamb in the end zone on Aug. 9, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Brian Schottenheimer listed him among the players who have exceeded expectations in camp.
Downs did not play against Arizona on Saturday. Dallas has held most of its starters out of the preseason.
Joe Milton III said he spent the offseason on self-evaluation and on flushing plays rather than staying emotionally tied to them.
“Caleb, I mean, I’ve been playing against Caleb since college. I always thought he was a great player, but obviously now to have him on our team is great,” Milton said. “The pick at the end was great too. Great look by him looking off of that. He’s a great player. I love the way that he’s just physical, real smart, and he’s the type of person that if you don’t know, he’ll ask.”
How Caleb Downs Got To Dallas
Dallas traded up with the Miami Dolphins to take Downs 11th overall in April. He signed a fully guaranteed four-year contract worth $28.9 million.
Downs spent his freshman season at Alabama and transferred to Ohio State. He was a unanimous All-American in each of his last two college seasons and won the Jim Thorpe Award, the Lott Trophy, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. Ohio State won the national championship. Downs recorded 68 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, and 1 pass deflection last season. He is listed at 6-0 and 210 pounds.
Parker took over a defense that allowed 511 points last season, 30.1 per game and last in the NFL, and he runs a 3-4 front. Cobie Durant and DaRon Bland have worked as the starting cornerbacks, with Malik Hooker and Jalen Thompson at safety.
What Is Left Before Dallas Cowboys Cuts
Wednesday brings one more open practice at The Star. Dallas hosts the New Orleans Saints on Friday at 7 p.m. CT on CBS to close the preseason.
The roster has to be down to 53 by 5 p.m. CT Sunday, with waiver claims due at noon the following day.
