Dallas Cowboys training camp: CeeDee Lamb's absence creates opportunities, plus job battles (2024)

OXNARD, Calif. — Just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, red and yellow buses filed into a hotel parking lot. Players and coaches stepped out and headed into what will be their home for the next month as the 2024 season gets underway when Dallas Cowboys training camp begins Thursday.

Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was not one of the players to get off the bus. Lamb held out of all spring activities and isn’t expected to report to training camp unless a new contract extension is signed. Lamb’s holdout is a major situation to track, among a number of other team storylines.

Let’s examine the impact those storylines will have on training camp and preseason, beginning with Lamb’s absence.

Jalen Tolbert getting valuable reps

You can throw Brandin Cooks into this boat, as well, but Cooks came in last year and played the role of No. 2 receiver. He immediately showed encouraging signs in his chemistry with Dak Prescott in OTAs and minicamp, as well as training camp. With Cooks, his play is more of a regular-season storyline than training camp one, as his strong offseason last year didn’t quickly translate when the games began.

Jalen Tolbert had an invisible rookie season before playing a sheltered role last year as the fourth receiver on the depth chart. By the second half of the season, Tolbert started taking game reps from Michael Gallup. With Gallup gone and Lamb absent, Tolbert should be a primary target for Prescott during camp.

The Cowboys have been patient with Tolbert, and he’s had steady growth, but it’s time for him to show up in a big way. In today’s NFL, the No. 3 wide receiver is a prime position, not to mention Tolbert needing to step up beyond that role in case of injuries or anything else.

Cowboys LG Tyler Smith on CeeDee Lamb not being with the team in California: “He’s a huge part of everything we do, for sure. His presence will obviously be missed. But while he’s handling the things he has to handle, we have to handle business as well. The best thing we can do… pic.twitter.com/puDrXPjUIf

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 23, 2024

Evaluating Trey Lance

This is a storyline on its own, given the Cowboys gave up a fourth-round pick last year to get Trey Lance. But the scrutiny is heightened over the major story of Prescott entering this season in a contract year.

If Prescott were locked up for years to come, Dallas would be evaluating Lance to see if its fourth-round investment was worth it as a backup quarterback or a trade asset to flip. With Prescott’s contract situation, the Cowboys have to look at Lance and decide if he’s a guy they view as a legitimate candidate to be the starting quarterback in Dallas in 2025.

Eric Kendricks’ presence

How the Cowboys adjust to a new defensive system under Mike Zimmer will be an overarching story throughout camp. While they have voices in the front office and coaching staff who are familiar with Zimmer, having a player like Eric Kendricks who understands Zimmer’s personality and system will be critical in getting the rest of the players to buy in.

Zimmer’s defense profiles to be notably different than that of Dan Quinn, who became a player favorite the past three years. Zimmer has been out of the NFL for three years and will be tasked with relating to the younger players. How Zimmer relates to guys like Micah Parsons, the defense’s best player, will go a long way when Zimmer is asking Parsons to play a role he may not be used to — or inclined to play. The same goes for getting the most out of Mazi Smith, who struggled as a rookie, or maximizing DeMarvion Overshown, who was a favorite of Quinn and has an intriguing skill set.

At some level, each individual has to take responsibility, but Kendricks being a leader of the defense in the middle and a bridge from Zimmer to the locker room will be a vital component of the transition.

KaVontae Turpin’s usage

You know about the changes to the NFL’s kickoff rules this season. The Cowboys are one of the teams that should benefit from that. They have a player in KaVontae Turpin whose inclusion on the roster two years ago was primarily because of his special teams prowess. Given the nature of what kickoffs have been, Turpin’s impact has been diminished.

That can change this year, but not only on special teams. Turpin will obviously be a leading part of the return game, but last year, coach Mike McCarthy said Turpin would be a legitimate part of the offense, as well. That was more as a deep depth chart guy who would have trouble even getting on the field as the No. 5 or No. 6 receiver. In training camp, Turpin has a chance to start as the No. 3 guy behind Cooks and Tolbert.

If Turpin can prove his worth early, he should be a factor even when Lamb returns and compete for a higher spot on the depth chart with an aging Cooks or a mystery box player in Tolbert.

Rico Dowdle’s big chance

The running back position will be a major storyline all season after the Cowboys chose to ignore it in the draft and, save for adding veterans Royce Freeman and Ezekiel Elliott, ignore it in any substantial way in free agency.

Even though Elliott was in Dallas under McCarthy two seasons ago, Rico Dowdle is the one who was in Dallas last year under McCarthy’s new offense. Dowdle began to get more opportunities late last season in tandem with Tony Pollard. Dowdle has fewer than 100 career carries and 400 career rushing yards and turned just 26 last month.

The Cowboys have been open about taking a committee approach to the position this year, but somebody needs to be the face of the committee. If Dowdle plays things right, his age, experience and skill set should allow him to be just that.

Offensive line dominoes

There will be plenty to discuss along the offensive line all summer. Tyler Guyton is undergoing a major transition, not just from college to the pros but flipping from right tackle to left tackle. He has big shoes to fill with Tyron Smith departing but should be aided playing next to Tyler Smith. Smith will also be next to the center, which should be a battle between Brock Hoffman and Cooper Beebe. On the right edge, it’ll be worth watching how Terence Steele bounces back from last season now that he’s healthy and has more distance from his 2022 knee injury.

The rehab crew

Speaking of injuries … the entire rehab group will be under a spotlight, not just because they’re players returning from injuries but because the Cowboys are counting on many of them to play major roles. Overshown is expected to be an answer to woes at linebacker that have spanned years. Trevon Diggs, an All-Pro in 2021, is expected to start at cornerback opposite DaRon Bland. To a lesser extent, tight end John Stephens Jr. picking up where he left off could give the Cowboys a much-needed red zone target in the passing game.

(Top photo of Jalen Tolbert: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)

Saad Yousuf is a staff writer covering the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Stars. He also works at 96.7/1310 The Ticket in Dallas after five years at ESPN Dallas radio. Prior to The Athletic, Saad covered the Cowboys for WFAA, the Mavericks for Mavs.com and a variety of sports at The Dallas Morning News, ESPN.com and SB Nation. Follow Saad on Twitter @SaadYousuf126