Dallas might have a trip to the Pacific Northwest for a joint practice with the Seahawks ahead of the team's preseason contest in August.
The Dallas Cowboys don't have the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on the 2026 regular-season schedule until more than halfway through, but they are the first team this Dallas team - or at least part of it - will face in the preseason opener on August 15.
Before that visit to Lumen Field in December, a report suggests Dallas could make an early trip to the Pacific Northwest as offseason practices begin.
Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard cited a source on his podcast who said Seattle could continue its string of joint practices under third-year head coach Mike Macdonald.
"From what I understand and the conversations I’m having, they are really, really attempting to make that work," Huard said. "And that would be so awesome for the fans, the experience. I’ve gotten to see that in the Denver market. The Broncos have been able to do [joint practices] and get opponents to come in. It’s really cool.
"I think the Seahawks will do their darndest. And we know the Cowboys, they like to do joint practices anyway. And I think you’re going to see that."
The concept isn't foreign around the league, but Seattle had gone over three decades without having an offseason workout with another NFL team before a preseason game. The Seahawks have now done so in back-to-back seasons since Macdonald has taken over.
Huard notes how the practice dynamic could replicate a game atmosphere within the lines before the teams line up in the real deal.
"And in many ways, the intensity of those couple practices are better than the preseason game, because they’re getting after it, because it’s ones-on-ones," he said. "That red zone and that high red zone last year in [Green Bay], that was the first coming-out party of … JSN and Sam Darnold. That was kind of the first little appetizer and vision of what could be and what was to come."
That vision led to Darnold's continued resurgence under center and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's breakout into the eventual Offensive Player of the Year last year.
We already know the Cowboys also delve into joint practices. Brian Schottenheimer's team will prepare for his second year at the helm with a joint practice against the New Orleans Saints this summer, as well, before their Aug. 28 preseason game, Dallas' third and final one before Week 1.
It's also been confirmed that Dallas will hold a joint workout with the Los Angeles Rams while the team is conducting training camp in its annual Oxnard, Calif. getaway.
Before then, Dallas could be preparing to visit the Seahawks, who will have their share of familiar faces.
Cowboys exes DeMarcus Lawrence and Dante Fowler Jr. make up part of Seattle's stellar defensive line. Lawrence spent his first season away from Dallas after a decade-plus career, and after taking home the Lombardi Trophy, he helped encourage Fowler to make the move to Seattle this offseason as a free agent.
Adding to the drama, the Seahawks are set to be featured in HBO's offseason docu-series "Hard Knocks" this season. An appearance by the Cowboys would surely mean box-office cinema for viewers that week.
"You know what?" Huard laughed. "Maybe it’s an opportunity for the Seahawks and [general manager John Schneider] and Mike to be like, 'Enough cameras on us. Go get it on Jerry. Jerry will go talk to you.'
"They can do the whole ‘Hard Knocks’ episode. Go focus on them and get the focus off us."
That sounds like an idea Cowboys boss Jerry Jones would be interested in.
