Multiple fights erupted during a joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, leaving Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer expressing disappointment over the sloppy scrimmage, ejections, and heated exchanges involving star players like Dak Prescott ahead of their upcoming preseason meeting on August 28.
The tension went well beyond minor pushing and shoving. Officials tossed Cowboys outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku after he landed a punch on a Saints offensive lineman, marking his second ejection of training camp for throwing a punch. Cornerback Caelen Carson also threw a punch during a serious altercation with Saints rookie wide receiver Brock Rechsteiner, though officials reportedly missed that instance. The physicality escalated further when Saints center Erik McCoy threw a Cowboys helmet into the air, and Rechsteiner wrestled Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson to the ground.
When Thompson was later asked if the Cowboys won the physical battles, he offered a blunt assessment: Of course we did. Come on now.
Dak Prescott and Star Players Caught in the Crossfire
Social media clips captured Prescott visibly frustrated during the skirmishes. Footage shared by journalists showed the quarterback trading words with New Orleans players before walking away, making a punching motion, and pointing back toward the group. Meanwhile, New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough embraced the competitive hostility after the session concluded.
“We’re competing the whole time, We’re getting after it, … I was going out there, talking c–p to guy, talking a bunch. We are out there to compete every single down, and that’s what we want. But we also have to manage the ebbs and flows of the game, too.”
Tyler Shough, New Orleans quarterback, via Yahoo Sports
Coaches Weigh Canceling Scrimmage Amid Sloppy Play
Ultimately, the two coaches agreed to let the scrimmage play out once things briefly settled down. However, the excessive penalties, ejections, and bodies hitting the ground left the coaching staff frustrated over lost developmental time. With Dallas starters unlikely to see action in the remaining preseason games over the next two weeks, joint practices serve as their primary preseason evaluation window.
“I’ve got to go look at the film because I was playing referee the whole time. The one thing I’ve learned is I don’t get in the fights, I stay back. Our football team needs this work. Overall, I was disappointed in the work today because I didn’t think we got enough good work. I thought there were too many bodies on the ground. It just felt sloppy to me. It is what it is.”
Explosive fights break out at Saints joint practice with Cowboys
Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys coach, via Dallas Cowboys
Following the session, Schottenheimer led the team through conditioning before gathering them for a lengthy closed conversation about mentality and discipline. He made it clear that while he expects his players to compete fiercely, self-inflicted discipline issues remain a glaring concern.
“It was more about mindset, mentality, ability to refocus when bad stuff happens, Again, we’re going to play on the edge. And we’re not going to take, I’ll say the word again, s— from anybody…It was a sloppy practice all in all, and it’s got to be better.”
Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys coach, via Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys finish their remaining padded practice in Oxnard before traveling to face the Arizona Cardinals for their second preseason game, with the simmering rivalry against New Orleans set to carry over directly to the field when the two teams meet.
