Cowboys and Rams Scrims: Offensive Line Adjustments and Defensive Gains in Woodland Hills

The Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams concluded a joint training camp scrimmage in Woodland Hills, California, on 11 August 2026, with both units demonstrating a level of competitiveness that contrasts sharply with previous encounters. Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer was present at the Rams Practice Facility as the teams engaged in practice scenarios that avoided the one-sided dominance observed when the Rams visited Oxnard, California, in the prior year.

Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton received positive assessments for his performance against the Rams' edge rushers, appearing stronger and handling the run game effectively. While the Cowboys' new offensive line unit returned all 11 starters heading into camp, reducing the uncertainty that characterised the 2025 season, Guyton’s development remained a focal point. He was praised for his technique, although the assessment was tempered by the fact that he did not face Myles Garrett, who is widely identified as the best pass rusher in the league and watched from the sidelines.

In contrast, right tackle Terence Steele struggled during the scrimmage, with reports indicating he was outperformed by Byron Young, the Rams' second-best pass rusher. The performance prompted discussions regarding potential game-day adjustments, such as keeping tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford in the lineup to chip the rusher and provide Steele with additional protection. While Young is not the league's premier edge rusher, the Cowboys must ensure their second-best defender does not appear dominant if the team aims to replicate its previous offensive success.

On the defensive side, linebacker Justin Barron recorded three interceptions during the practice, including one against Rams starter Matthew Stafford. Barron, a second-year undrafted player who has been in a rotation at linebacker throughout camp, saw his performance contextualised as occurring in a non-game scrimmage environment. The significance of these turnovers remains to be seen, as they occurred in a practice setting rather than a competitive game.

The Cowboys have several weeks remaining in training camp to demonstrate that Steele’s struggles were an anomaly and to further solidify the cohesion of the offensive line. The team appears focused on implementing specific game-plan adjustments based on these practice observations, aiming to address vulnerabilities before the regular season begins.