FRISCO, Texas — Kenny Clark spent training camp lining up across from Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, and Tyler Smith. Camp opened in Oxnard, California, on July 27.
“It’s awesome just going against the guys every day. It’s truly iron sharpens iron,” Clark said. “I’m happy I had a chance to go against these guys, and then now we get to move forward and get some competition and go against the Giants.”
Dallas came home from Oxnard for two padded practices in Frisco, then closed the preseason on Aug. 28 with a 27-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium. Smith, Tyler Guyton, and Terence Steele all sat that night.
The Dallas Cowboys set their initial 53-man roster on Aug. 30 with 24 players on offense, 26 on defense, and 3 specialists.
Kenny Clark On Flipping From Training Camp To The Dallas Cowboys Regular Season
Clark said Brian Schottenheimer‘s message in the first team meeting of the week was to take it one day at a time and lock in on preparation and the standard.
“Just taking it one day at a time. We’ve been in the flow of our schedule and all that kind of stuff for a minute now,” Clark explained. “So just taking it a day at a time, being where your feet is and just locking in on the preparation.”
Monday was a bonus practice day. Dallas is off Tuesday and returns Wednesday to install the first- and second-down plan, with Thursday and Friday to follow.
Players voted Clark a team captain for 2026 in his second season with the club, one of two new ones alongside Quinnen Williams. Both defensive tackles also sit on the leadership council.
The Dallas Cowboys Defense Kenny Clark Opens With
Clark spent nine seasons in Green Bay before arriving in Dallas by trade ahead of last season. Dallas restructured his contract in the same window it reworked deals for DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson, clearing more than $19 million in cap space.
Christian Parker took over the defense this offseason. He replaced Matt Eberflus, whose unit allowed 30.1 points per game in 2025, a franchise record, along with 511 points and 60 touchdowns, both league worsts.
The Cowboys signed Williams to a three-year, $105.9 million extension on Aug. 10. Rashan Gary came over from the Green Bay Packers. Malachi Lawrence was the first-round pick in April and Donovan Ezeiruaku is in his second season. Von Miller signed a one-year deal on Aug. 16, and Schottenheimer said Monday he sees no physical reason Miller could not play Sunday.
Jalen Thompson signed a three-year, $33 million deal and joins Bland, Caleb Downs, and Malik Hooker in the secondary. Dee Winters and DeMarvion Overshown are the linebackers Schottenheimer named for speed.
The New York Giants open with Jaxson Dart in his second season, Cam Skattebo in the backfield, and Francis Mauigoa at No. 10 overall on the offensive line. Matt Nagy runs the offense under John Harbaugh, who brought 15 assistants with him from the Baltimore Ravens.
Dallas finished 7-9-1 last season and has missed the playoffs two years running. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
