Dak Prescott silences injury concerns while a smiling George Pickens puts contract drama aside, sparking an electric atmosphere as Dallas launches a high-stakes minicamp inside The Star.
FRISCO - Even amid a 7-9-1 season, Dak Prescott and George Pickens teamed up often enough in 2025 to turn some Dallas Cowboys frowns upside down.
And the dynamic duo - with a lot of help from their friends - were responsible for more of the same as the Cowboys kicked off Day 1 of their three-day minicamp on Tuesday here inside The Star.
What went right for the Pro Bowl pair? Most everything, especially in contrast to a nervous pre-minicamp feeling about the state of Dak's health and the state of George's head.
To wit, here's Fish's Top 10 Takes from inside The Star on Tuesday ...
1 - DAK INJURY SCARE - Do you think by "scare'' I'm overdoing it? Maybe. And indeed, before the workout, coach Brian Schottenheimer said Prescott's "sore knee" was not much of a concern.
And yet ... the plan was to limit the QB's work during this session.
But to my eyes? The quarterback keyed the team drills and looked fine - as in command and mobile as ever.
Caution is always merited when it comes to a $60 million quarterback. But this was a good day for Dak, in large part because it seems that "sore knee'' isn't all that "sore'' at all.
2 - PICKENS' PROMISE - Also worrisome, at least for a moment: Would George Pickens skip the mandatory session in contractual protest? Would he show up but pout? Would he stage a "hold-in''?
Answers? No, no and no.
Brian Schottenheimer predicted, “He will be Coach Pickens today.'' But in fact ...
On Tuesday, Pickens participated in individual drills, but did not take part in team drills. ... and capped it all off with a comfortable grin and a promise.
He said there will be no holdout. Nor will there be a "hold-in.'' And he expressed no disappointment at having to play under the $27.3 million franchise tag as opposed to getting a lucrative long-term deal.
He said he didn’t attend voluntary OTAs because he was listening to the advice of his agent, David Mulugheta.
But he's here. Schottenheimer said he's all smiles, noting that Pickens' grin is "contagious.''
Oh, and is he really in a good mood? Indeed, as after one reception from Dak, he performed a mini-dance on the sideline.
3 - INJURY UPDATE - Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) and safety Jalen Thompson (pec) spent a majority of their time on the cords with Cowboys trainer Britt Brown. Safety Malik Hooker did even less than that, mostly sitting nearby Brown's group.
EDGE James Houston (back) did his conditioning work on the opposite practice field and EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku (hip) also sat out.
I would also note that young defensive starters Shavon Revel and DeMarvion Overshown, both trying to establish their ability to stay healthy, are moving well and doing so without knee braces.
4 - HELLO, EMMITT! - The Cowboys under former coach Jason Garrett established an open-door policy when it comes to former players hanging out at practice. The policy remains in play, and at the end of the workout, Cowboys Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith came onto the field and Javonte Williams made a beeline to seek him out for a visit.
5 - 'DANGEROUS' SORSBY - Jerry Jones and some members of the media are playing a silly game connecting the Cowboys to Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby, who is taking his gambling problem from college to the NFL via a supplemental draft.
Schottenheimer - even while trying to be funny - isn't playing that game.
“Honestly, I know it’s a big storyline, but I haven’t followed it much,'' he said. "I’m aware just enough to be dangerous. So I really don’t have any honest opinions.
“If we get to the point where we’re interested, then certainly I’ll have an opinion. But as of now, it doesn’t affect my life. I’m focused on the 90 guys we have here.”
Read more below ...
6 - JAYDON BLUE ON SPECIAL TEAMS? - It's one thing to consider Blue as a return man (even though I didn't see him do any of that on Monday, with KaVontae Turpin running that show).
It's another thing for Schottenheimer to suggest that Blue could help on teams as a gunner due to his speed.
Take this as yet another suggestion that Dallas wants this Longhorns product to make the team.
7 - COBIE AND CAELEN - Cowboys corners Caelen Carson and Cobie Durant got first-team work and the coaches continue to praise Carson ... while even the layman can see that the free-agent Durant is a playmaker. The Rams ex had a couple of pass-breakups, including one on a diving attempt.
8 - NEW O-LINE TRY? - Colleague Joe Hoyt points out that amid the "Tyler Guyton vs. Nate Thomas'' battle at left tackle, on this day, Thomas played as the second-team right tackle.
Hmmm.
So, does that mean Guyton is winning the job?
Not necessarily, as rookie Drew Shelton was the second-teamer at left tackle ... and some in the building hold him in high regard as well.
9 - FISH-CELLANEOUS - On a couple of occasions, I noticed the Dallas offense using tight ends split wide. That could be a secret weapon for Brevyn Spann-Ford, and UDFA rookie DJ Rogers from TCU got a chance to do the same ... he Cowboys are giving minicamp tryouts to two free agents, ex-Browns corner Sam Webb and ex-Raiders linebacker Charles Snowden ... Dallas has signed UFL offensive lineman Chris Glaser ... Former Raiders running back Zamir White also reportedly worked out for the Cowboys in recent days.
10 - THE FINAL WORD - “What’s important to me is winning. Like I said from the beginning, I always wanna bring a Super Bowl to a group of guys that never had that feeling. That’s really the most important part to me.” - George Pickens.
