FRISCO, Texas (Aug. 19, 2025) – After concluding their initial training camp in Oxnard, California, the Dallas Cowboys returned to North Texas and celebrated the homecoming with a pair of open practices at the iconic Ford Center at The Star. Across Tuesday evening’s session, players, coaches, and fans converged under the bright lights of Training Camp’s Opening Ceremony to kick off the season’s final stretch.

Camp Comes Home with Spark

The festivities began at 4 p.m. on Tostitos Championship Plaza, where families explored tailgate-style activities, DJ music, and meet-and-greets featuring mascot Rowdy. By 4:30 p.m., fans flooded into the Ford Center, occupying the 12,000-seat facility to catch a glimpse of their favorites in action. The opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m., presented by American Airlines, included remarks from owner and GM Jerry Jones, alongside Griffin Gonzalez, the airline’s community executive. The energy reverberated into the first of two open practices scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Players Make Their Moves

Jaydon Blue, the exciting rookie running back recently cleared after injury, participated fully in Tuesday’s drills, looking healthy and game-ready. His pace and presence were welcomed developments.

Meanwhile, undrafted cornerback Zion Childress continued to impress as a rising contender in the secondary. With several injuries among the team’s defensive backs, Childress is pushing for a prominent role—possibly as the nickel corner—thanks to disciplined coverage and advanced instincts.

Veteran wide receiver George Pickens wowed during session highlights, hauling in highlight-reel catches alongside starter CeeDee Lamb, establishing rapport with QB Dak Prescott that coaches have heralded as among camp’s most productive developments.

The Parsons Shadow

Off the field, Micah Parsons’ contract stalemate cast a noticeable shadow over camp. Despite his absence from drills, the star linebacker made a sideline appearance, met with both cheers and anxious fan chants. His future remains in limbo as negotiations stay stalled.

Culture by Design

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer emphasized the importance of embedding a new, physical culture—“training camp is still training camp,” he insisted—this time with the support of the home crowd. The energy and feel of The Star under the lights reinforced that message.

What to Watch on Wednesday

Camp returns for Cowboys Night on Wednesday, with plaza festivities starting at 4 p.m. and practice replayed live on TXA‑21 and DallasCowboys.com from 6–8 p.m. Observers will be focused on how players like Blue, Childress, and Pickens build on their momentum and who else might emerge in last-minute roster battles.

Looking Ahead

With training now shifted back home, the Cowboys are locked in on fine-tuning their roster and identities ahead of their preseason game against the Falcons. Practices at The Star have softened the transition from campus to competition and laid the groundwork for the season ahead.

Dallas returns to action at AT&T Stadium this Saturday, when Joe Milton is set to make a second consecutive start under center as part of the QB depth chart shuffle.

In all, Tuesday’s Frisco practice was more than a curtain-raiser—it was a homecoming primer, a culture statement, and a showcase that amplified optimism heading into the final warm-up before the regular season.

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