Schottenheimer Says Cowboys Still ‘Actively Looking’ for Roster Help at Training Camp

The Dallas Cowboys aren’t done building. That’s the message coming out of Oxnard, California, where head coach Brian Schottenheimer is running training camp ahead of the 2026 season and, according to the source material provided, telling reporters Dallas hasn’t closed the door on more additions.

“We’re actively looking as well,” Schottenheimer reportedly said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. Note: this exact quote comes from the source material supplied for this report and could not be independently re-verified through a live search at the time of writing. It’s treated here as reported, not as independently confirmed.

The comment lands the same week the Houston Texans agreed to terms with Jadeveon Clowney, the veteran pass rusher who spent last season with Dallas. Clowney racked up 8.5 sacks for the Cowboys in 2025 after not suiting up until Week 4, leading the team in that category. He’s now back with the Texans, the franchise that made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2014, as he chases a Super Bowl in what he’s called his 13th and final push. His exit leaves Dallas with a hole on the edge, and it’s part of why Schottenheimer’s “actively looking” framing matters right now.

Fixing a Defense That Fell Apart

Dallas has spent this offseason trying to patch a defense that bottomed out in 2025. The Cowboys used one of their two first-round picks on Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, trading up to grab him at No. 11 overall. Downs arrives with a Jim Thorpe Award, back-to-back All-American honors, and a reputation as one of the more physical, instinctive safeties to come out of college football in years. He’s already turning heads at camp, working closely with first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker.

That defense needed the help. Dallas ranked among the league’s worst units on that side of the ball in 2025, a steep drop from the elite defenses the franchise fielded just a few seasons back. Downs joins a group that also added Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, Otito Ogbonnia and Tyrus Wheat during free agency, part of what Schottenheimer called a busy offseason at the NFL’s League Meetings back in the spring.

The Offense Doesn’t Need Much Fixing

While the defense searches for its footing, quarterback Dak Prescott and the passing attack enter 2026 as the engine that’s already humming. Prescott threw for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025, the third-most passing yards and fourth-most touchdowns in the league, and posted a 99.5 passer rating. He was in the MVP conversation for stretches of the year before Dallas stumbled down the stretch and finished 7-9.

George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb formed one of the most productive receiving duos in football, with both wideouts clearing 1,000 yards. That pairing returns in 2026, along with tight end Jake Ferguson and running back Javonte Williams, who ran for over 1,200 yards last season. If Dallas can get even average defensive play to go with that kind of offensive firepower, the Cowboys believe they can push for real contention in a crowded NFC.

What’s Next

The Cowboys will find out fast whether the offseason additions closed the gap. Dallas opens the 2026 regular season on the road against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, Sept. 13, a rivalry matchup that will also mark the potential NFL debuts of two former Ohio State teammates on opposite sidelines: Downs for Dallas and linebacker Arvell Reese for New York.

Until then, expect Schottenheimer’s front office to keep monitoring the free-agent board. Whether that search turns into another roster move remains speculation at this point — nothing has been confirmed beyond the coach’s general comments about staying open to opportunities.