Cowboys training camp: Undrafted star of the day
The boys are back in Cali. The Dallas Cowboys opened training camp on Thursday and held their first practice of what is shaping up to be an eventful training camp loaded with (contractual) drama and intrigue. The long days of the summer will undoubtedly feature the stars showing their best for crowds in attendance, and some longshots will push to make a name for themselves and a spot on the roster.
90 players are vying for 53 spots, and those on the bottom of the roster must compete daily to make an impression on the coaching staff and the front office. Throughout training camp in Oxnard, we’ll set our sights on the undrafted players who could emerge from the pack and make the final roster.
Honorable mention: Jason Johnson, Linebacker
Jason Johnson was a tackling machine in his last two seasons in college, racking up 240 tackles in that span, with almost half being the solo variety. He’s a little undersized and could get lost when taking on blocks of bigger linemen. Therefore, Johnson must make flashy plays to stand out at camp.
On one play Thursday, he was at the right place at the right time. The ball was knocked into the air on a pass intended for Deuce Vaughn, and Johnson swooped in for the interception. The Cowboys need linebackers, and if Johnson can make more plays in practice during the preseason games and add support on special teams, it would do wonders for him. Let’s see if he can keep it up.
Undrafted Star of the Day: Tyron Billy-Johnson, Wide receiver
Tyron Billy-Johnson is fighting an uphill battle. The Cowboys are without CeeDee Lamb at camp as he awaits a new contract, but for the interim, that leaves extra opportunities for receivers to get noticed. Billy-Johnson used that chance to make arguably the play of the day. On a deep pattern, he raced down the left sideline and Dak Prescott delivered a great pass in an ideal spot. Billy-Johnson maintained his concentration to haul in the pass between two oncoming defenders.
Billy-Johnson went undrafted in 2019 and has played very sparingly entering his sixth season as a professional, as he hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2022. Yet, expect his speed to catch the eyes of many onlookers during these practices and, hopefully for his sake, during the preseason. Again, his odds are a longshot, but all he can do is try to replicate days like today.