Dak Prescott Says The Dallas Cowboys Offense Is ‘On Pace’ But Not Where It Needs To Be

OXNARD, Calif. — Six practices into training camp, Dak Prescott said the Dallas Cowboys offense is on pace. It isn’t where he wants it yet. Prescott said he’d be pumping the brakes if it were.

Prescott is entering his 11th NFL season and his second in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense. Klayton Adams is in his second season as Cowboys offensive coordinator. Camp opened July 29 at River Ridge Fields. The Cowboys held their first padded practice on Aug. 3.

Year two of a system is about finding pieces that complement what already works. Prescott said the group isn’t there yet, and that’s the point.

“Some good things are happening,” Prescott said. “When you’ve been in year one and you’re going into year two, you’re trying to build things, you’re trying to find new things and things that complement the old things that we’ve done and do well. I think we’re on pace in doing that. Is it where we want it to be? Absolutely not. And if it was, I’d be pumping the brakes. Why is this so amazing now to have to carry it into this long journey? We’re getting it right where we need to be.”

What the Dallas Cowboys Are Changing on Offense

Dallas finished second in the NFL in total yards last season. The Cowboys went 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

The changes build off concepts already in the playbook. Prescott said that makes them quick to teach. He said the harder part is getting those plays run against enough different looks in practice.

“Most of them are complimentary of something else, so it’s easy to teach them because we’re doing it because of A worked this way, so this is the adjustment to get to B,” Prescott said. “I don’t think there’s going to be a long journey, it’s just about getting those different plays in versus a bunch of different looks. Our defense is only giving us so many looks, so you’ve got to walk through and get those looks against ourselves…”

Prescott said the run game has looked good through the first week. He wants the passing game sharper.

Schottenheimer remains the play-caller. He handed Adams the controls for two periods during Monday’s practice, including red zone work, and the offense produced four touchdowns in a six-play span.

Who Is Standing Out in the Dallas Cowboys Passing Game

CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens have carried their usual workload through the first week. Pickens is playing 2026 on the franchise tag after signing a $27.3 million tender. He caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns in his first season in Dallas.

Tight end Jake Ferguson and receiver KaVontae Turpin have also stood out in practice. Ferguson caught 82 passes for 600 yards across 17 games last season and made his second Pro Bowl as an alternate. Turpin was a second-team All-Pro in 2025 and made his third straight Pro Bowl as a return specialist.

The Cowboys hold a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday in Woodland Hills, California. Camp in Oxnard runs through Aug. 18, and Dallas opens the preseason at the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT on NFL Network.