SEATTLE — Caleb Downs started in the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary Saturday night and came off the field almost immediately. That was the plan, and the No. 11 pick said he has stopped arguing with it.
Dallas beat the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 17-7 at Lumen Field. Downs logged a little more than a handful of reps, according to DallasCowboys.com, which spoke with him afterward.
“Yeah, super excited,” Downs said, per DallasCowboys.com. “It was a really fun experience, and I’m excited to have more opportunities in the future.”
Asked whether he wanted to stay on the field longer against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, Downs said he did.
Why The Dallas Cowboys Are Rationing Him
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about both first-round picks after the game and did not have much yet.
“Not really,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, I know it seemed like Caleb was out pretty quick. That was the plan, of course, and you stick to the plan. And then I thought Malachi had a couple really good rushes that I saw affecting the quarterback. And I thought he definitely settled in. But for the most part, those guys, we see it every day. They’re going to get great work against the Saints here in a couple days. And all in all, I thought they played well.”
Downs got a full workload in the joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 11. Another joint session, against the New Orleans Saints, is set for Tuesday in Oxnard. Between those and daily camp reps, the game snaps are the part Dallas can afford to withhold.
Downs knows the Cowboys are not going to let him overdo it before the games count, Walker reported.
“Yeah, I understand now,” Downs said. “I do what they tell me.”
What The Dallas Cowboys Traded To Get Him
Dallas moved up one spot on the first night of the draft, sending No. 12 and two fifth-rounders to the Miami Dolphins for No. 11. Miami took Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor at 12.
Downs won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2025 as the nation’s best defensive back and was a unanimous All-American in 2024 and 2025, the sixth two-time unanimous All-American in Ohio State history. He had 68 tackles as a junior with 5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles, and captained a defense that finished first nationally in total defense, scoring defense, and passing defense.
He spent his freshman year at Alabama, where he had 107 tackles, 4 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions before transferring.
Downs was the fourth Ohio State player drafted in 2026, and the Buckeyes became the first program since the merger with four players taken inside the top 11.
The Defense He Walked Into
Dallas allowed 511 points last season, most in the NFL, and finished 30th in yards allowed.
Saturday was Christian Parker‘s first game calling plays as defensive coordinator. Seattle scored on its opening drive and gained 76 yards over its final seven possessions. The Seahawks made four red-zone trips and came away with 7 points.
Dallas had 3 sacks for 27 yards and held Seattle to 49 net passing yards. Curtis Robinson led the Cowboys with 8 tackles.
Downs joins Malik Hooker in the safety room along with offseason additions Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke. Hooker and Thompson were both held out Saturday. Hooker was the last Ohio State safety taken in the first round before Downs, going 15th in 2017.
What Comes Next
Open practices in Oxnard run through Tuesday, Aug. 18, including the joint work with New Orleans.
Dallas plays at the Cardinals on Aug. 22, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. CT, then hosts the Saints on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. CT. The regular season begins Sept. 13 at the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
