The joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints turned into a brawl instead of a football drill. Players threw punches and tossed helmets on the field in Oxnard, California. The day was supposed to build rhythm, but it ended with a mess. Multiple fights broke out and stopped the scrimmage from ever getting going. Saints center Erik McCoy threw a helmet during one scuffle. In another incident, his own helmet went missing before he and Cowboys linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku exchanged punches.
Ezeiruaku was kicked out of practice for the second time this offseason. Earlier in camp, a punch was thrown by him, resulting in his removal to the locker room. Coach Brian Schottenheimer had a talk with him after that first dustup. The coach said he would have another conversation with the player after this latest incident. Schottenheimer called the day “a little chippy” and admitted it was not the way the team likes to do business. He noted that one guy sounded like he threw a punch, which is why he left early.
That’s a lot of heat for a single Tuesday.
Von Miller Brings a New Vibe
While the fights dominated the headlines, new star Von Miller finally hit the practice field. He arrived without pads but brought a clear message to the team. Miller told quarterback Dak Prescott that it was “about time” for Dallas to break through. He believes this is the year the team can finally make a deep playoff run. Miller sees a talented roster that is very different from last year’s group.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer is excited to add Miller to the mix. He believes the veteran pass rusher brings value both on the field and off it. “He’s going to add a lot, on the field and off,” Schottenheimer said. “You can never have enough pass rushers.” The coach praised Miller’s lack of ego and his drive to win. “The guy has no ego. He wants to win. “We are extremely, extremely thrilled to bring him onto our football squad, Schottenheimer informed the reporters.
Miller’s arrival adds a layer of experience that the defense needs badly. Schottenheimer noted that Miller has incredible football intellect and still has first-step quickness. The team has “a lot of inside information about him as a player — what he’s accomplished is incredible,” the coach said. This high-energy attitude should help raise the standard for the entire defense.
Think about the pressure that puts on the secondary.
Injury Concerns Mount
The chaos wasn’t limited to the fights. Several key players had to leave the practice early due to injuries. Fullback Hunter Luepke exited the field with a trainer, though the exact reason remains unclear. Running back Alvin Kamara also left the Saints side of the field. Luepke holds a secure spot as the starting fullback, but his availability is now a question mark.
Rookie tight end Michael Trigg missed the entire joint practice session because of a toe injury. This is a big problem for Trigg since he is fighting for a roster spot. Missing a critical practice like this could hurt his chances to shine in front of the coaches. Trigg looked solid in the preseason debut, but now he faces a tough road to recovery. The team might have to look at putting him on injured reserve if he cannot get healthy soon.
The Cowboys need to get their starters healthy before the regular season starts.
Next up is the first preseason game against the Chargers.
