OXNARD, Calif. — Caleb Downs asked to finish a series in his NFL debut. He was told the decision was above the coaching staff’s heads. The Dallas Cowboys rookie played six plays in the preseason opener at Seattle before coming off the field.
“It was awesome. I mean, you can’t really replicate the feeling,” Downs said. “I’m looking forward to the real games and not being snatched out of the game, like come over here after six plays, but just excited to be on the field.”
Downs said he had never been pulled mid-series before.
“In the middle of a series? No, that’s actually never happened,” Downs explained. “I was like, hey, just let me finish a series. They were like, it’s above our heads. So I couldn’t really say much.”
Brian Schottenheimer said Aug. 3 that Dallas plans to hold most of its starters out of all three exhibitions.
He Does Not Know If He Plays Saturday
Downs said the Cowboys told him the day before the Seattle game how much he would play, and that he expects the same this week.
“I have no clue. They told me the day before the game last week, and I guess they’re going to tell me tomorrow,” Downs said. “So we’ll see.”
Dallas plays at the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. Schottenheimer said Thursday morning that the Cowboys had not decided who would start at quarterback and expected to settle it that night.
Caleb Downs Was Asked About Defensive Rookie Of The Year
Downs did not engage with the award question.
“Honestly, I’m just focused on today. That’s the biggest thing,” Downs said. “And if I want to get there at some point, I’ve got to play my best today.”
Dallas drafted Downs 11th overall in April out of Ohio State. He was a unanimous All-American in each of his last two college seasons, won the Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy, and was Big Ten defensive player of the year and defensive back of the year. He posted 68 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions in his final college season.
Schottenheimer named Downs first Thursday when he was asked to list players who had exceeded expectations in camp.
Camp Is Not Over
Downs said the Oxnard setup keeps players locked in, with meeting rooms 100 feet away and coaches staying a few doors down.
He said Schottenheimer addressed the team about what happens when they get back to Texas, telling them camp is not over. Downs said the difference at home is more distractions rather than less work.
About 10 days of training camp remain. Dallas holds open practices at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26.
Downs has spent camp covering CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, plus Chris Olave in the joint practice against New Orleans and Puka Nacua against the Los Angeles Rams.
Dallas allowed 511 points last season, the most in the NFL, and finished last in passing yards allowed at 251.5 per game. Christian Parker took over as defensive coordinator in January.
The preseason ends against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. CT.
