The Dallas Cowboys first-round rookies didn’t play a lot in their preseason debut versus the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. Safety Caleb Downs only appeared on the team’s first defensive possession.
But that was enough to wet his appetite.
After the Cowboys defeated the Seahawks 17-7, Downs spoke about what an enjoyable experience it was to get on the field for the first time in the NFL.
“Yeah, super excited,” the safety told reporters. “[It was a] really fun experience, and I’m excited to have more opportunities in the future.”
Downs didn’t record a statistic in his first preseason outing. The Cowboys, though, limited him to just a little more than a handful of snaps.
Dallas selected the safety at No. 11 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Caleb Downs Plays Well in a Very Small Sample
Downs was really on the field for too short of a time to standout. But on the other hand, he also didn’t make major mistakes.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer liked what he saw from the safety and fellow first-round rookie Malachi Lawrence.
“It seemed like Caleb was out pretty quick,” Schottenheimer said. “That was the plan, of course, which you stick to the plan.
“I thought Malachi had a couple really good rushes that I saw affecting the quarterback. I’d thought he definitely settled in. But for the most part, those guys, we see it every day. They’re going to get great work against the Saints here in a couple days. All in all, I thought they played well.”
The Cowboys will face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 of the preseason. That game will occur on August 22. But before that, the Cowboys will see the New Orleans Saints in a joint practice on Tuesday, August 18.
Dallas will also face New Orleans during the third week of the NFL preseason.
It sounds like Downs will get a lot more playing time against those two teams.
Cowboys Defense Looks Better vs. Super Bowl Champions
It’s the preseason, so coaches, players and fans alike have to take the results with a grain of salt.
But the Cowboys knocked off the Super Bowl champions Saturday night in Seattle. They also held the Seahawks to just one touchdown.
If the Cowboys can translate that defensive success into the regular season, they should be able to make a lot of noise in the NFC East.
“I thought the second half was really well played. Defensively, they were amazing,” Schottenheimer told reporters. “I think three or four four-and-outs, I thought they were awesome.
“A couple of red zone stops. Jonathan Mingo, I think it was the first half, made an incredible play on a punt return, stopped it. Then we muffed the fumble there late, defense goes right back out there, a little bit of training camp football, a little sloppy. That’s kind of what you deal with.”
The Cowboys are now less than a month away from their regular season opener against the New York Giants. The two teams will open the season again on Sunday Night Football.
Cowboys’ Caleb Downs Sends Clear Message on Preseason Debut