Back to Work: Cowboys begin voluntary offseason workouts
While the team officially started offseason workouts Monday, playmakers like Dak Prescott and George Pickens have already been at it on their own.
It's the first day back at work for much of the Cowboys roster. Monday marked Day One of the team's 2026 offseason workout program, although fans who are already eager for popping pads and tackling dummies will have to wait a while longer. The Cowboys- like all the other NFL teams at this point of the calendar- are only in Phase One of the offseason program.
That means no real football field work; only meetings, strength and conditioning workouts, and physical rehab will be taking place at The Star for now. While those meetings may sound like a boring formality, they will be absolutely critical heading into this season for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker and his assembled staff of assistants. Monday will mark the first opportunity for Parker to begin implementing a 3-4 defensive scheme and transition away from the 4-3 the team has run in recent years.
And with new players like Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, P. J. Locke, Cobie Durant, and Otito Ogbonnia joining the fold for 2026, getting everyone on the same page early will be key to the unit's success.
Cowboys begin voluntary offseason workouts today at The Star. — Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) April 20, 2026 All attendance and participation is voluntary for Phase One, which lasts two weeks. A few Cowboys playmakers, though, have already gotten a head start away from the facility.