Takeaways from Cowboys' final week of OTAs: Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs absences, notable plays, injury updates
FRISCO, Texas — Micah Parsons was absent from the Dallas Cowboys' organized team activities Tuesday, continuing a pattern of non-attendance over the previous two weeks as he pursues a new contract.
Is that disappointing?
'No, that's part of the business,' Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. 'All teams go through it. … He's staying connected. He's having great communication with Coach (Brian Schottenheimer) and his staff, so we feel really good about that.'
Jones declined to provide updates on contract negotiations, saying: 'No different than anything else. I'll let you know when it happens.'
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on if there are any more moves to be made to improve the roster: 'We don't have anything that's on the front burner.'
So nothing to the Jalen Ramsey rumors?
'No, he plays for the Dolphins.' pic.twitter.com/zvLSZOntBe
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 3, 2025
I will be there! I haven't missed a mini camp in 4 years! Even though the contract is not done, I have teammates and a playbook ! I'm preparing as if I will be on the field the first week of camp! But it's in the owner's hands. I'm ready to win a Super Bowl ! https://t.co/gMsfQEDYo7
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) June 4, 2025
Despite missing practice, Parsons arrived at The Star facility shortly after Tuesday's session concluded but did not speak with reporters. The Cowboys have maintained excellent OTA attendance overall, with only Parsons and cornerback Trevon Diggs absent from the voluntary portion of the offseason program.
Advertisement
As the players and coaches moved from the outdoor fields into the Ford Center, Stephen Jones spoke with reporters for seven minutes. One of the topics he discussed was the health of the cornerbacks, as Diggs and second-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. are working their way back from significant knee injuries.
'Between guys like Diggs and Revel, in particular, guys that can make a huge difference for us, we'll know a lot more when we get to camp,' Jones said. 'But we do like what (Andrew) Booth was doing, really like what (Kaiir) Elam's doing. (Caelen) Carson is really starting to get his legs again. And, of course, (DaRon) Bland is Bland. He's one of the best in the business. It's great to have him out there. We'll see kind of how things evolve.'
Diggs is rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury in Miami. Schottenheimer provided no timeline for his return but confirmed Diggs returned to the facility two weeks prior for medical evaluation, with 'all signs positive.'
Jones said they prefer to have Diggs do his work at The Star but understand he can choose to rehab elsewhere because this portion is voluntary. Diggs and Parsons are expected to attend next week's mandatory minicamp.
'Our understanding is that he's getting the work done,' Jones said. 'He'll be back in, and we'll get a good look at him next week.'
The Cowboys are completing their final week of OTAs before mandatory minicamp begins Tuesday, with media access scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Training camp will commence in late July.
Here are some takeaways from Tuesday's practice.
Cowboys WR George Pickens switched jersey numbers with DE Dante Fowler. Pickens is now 3. Fowler is now 13 pic.twitter.com/TQtoLg7l6h
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 3, 2025
• Pro Bowl wide receiver CeeDee Lamb attended but did not practice.
• George Pickens and Jalen Tolbert emerged as the top two receivers in Lamb's absence, and they each hauled in touchdown grabs from Dak Prescott during team drills.
• Backup quarterback Joe Milton showed off his impressive arm talent during team drills, effortlessly throwing a beautiful deep ball up the right sideline that wide receiver Jalen Brooks caught for about a 45-yard gain.
Advertisement
• Defensive end Sam Williams took a notable step Tuesday, participating in individual drills after being limited to rehab work off to the side. Williams wore a noticeable brace over his surgically repaired left knee. Signs seem to be pointing to his being ready to go for the start of training camp.
• Elam did a good job of breaking up a deep-ball throw from Prescott to Pickens in team drills.
• Linebacker Damone Clark intercepted a Milton pass across the middle of the field in team drills.
During Schottenheimer's pre-practice news conference, he touched on some big-picture topics, including the franchise's nearly 30-year Super Bowl drought. 'I don't get caught up in the drought,' he stated. 'This is one year. This is the first year of mine as head coach.'
Schottenheimer emphasized his forward-looking approach: 'When the season's over, we move on. 2024 is over; now it's 2025. Are we gonna win the Super Bowl this year? I hope. I think we are. If we don't, you move on.'
The coach rejected the notion that the franchise's historical success creates undue pressure on the current team, stating: 'I think it's to be celebrated. … We want to win a Super Bowl. We don't hide from that.'
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer: 'The way we practice and the way I act at practice, my father is looking down from heaven going: 'What are you doing? That's not how you practice.' But my father also coached a long time ago. And the type of athletes and type of young men that… pic.twitter.com/HswOQltLVJ
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 3, 2025
(Photo of Micah Parsons: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
22 minutes ago
- CBS News
Brooklyn restaurant crawl kicks off Juneteenth celebrations with flavor and purpose
A savory blend of cheeses, creamy macaroni, and a fall-off-the-bone serving of oxtail makes up Brooklyn Beso's signature oxtail mac and cheese. The dish has been drawing food lovers to the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant. "It is the right amount of cheese, the right amount of pasta. And then the oxtail, which is one of my favorite, is also very good. It's seasoned well," said Kaltmann Edwards, who traveled from Queens to enjoy the dish. The indulgent meal is just one of many offerings featured during a weeklong Juneteenth restaurant crawl celebrating Black-owned businesses across Brooklyn. "It was good, cheesy, nice and hot," said Fatou Sylla, another diner. "People go crazy over it. This is what we're really known for," said Donna Drakes, owner of Brooklyn Beso. Drakes, a native of St. Lucia, has operated her Latin-Caribbean fusion restaurant in Bed-Stuy for 15 years. She said she opened the restaurant to bring something new to a neighborhood rooted in Black culture. This week, she joins several local eateries taking part in a food crawl, which spotlights Black entrepreneurs and their culinary creativity. "I think it's more inspiring to little girls who want to start their own business no matter what avenue it is," Edwards added. "It's so important to celebrate that day" For Drakes, the event is about more than good food. It's about honoring the significance of Juneteenth. "It's a form of liberation," she said. "It's so important to celebrate that day. Everyone fought for it. Our ancestors fought for it." The restaurant crawl began Thursday and runs through June 19. It inviting locals and visitors alike to explore Brooklyn's rich food scene while supporting Black-owned establishments. "The winter was pretty rough. A lot of restaurants folded. And it is so important to keep Black-owned businesses alive, especially our culture, our foods," Drakes said. Back in the kitchen, orders of shrimp pasta were flying out, and margaritas were being poured at a steady clip. Diners packed the space, sampling the soulful menu that has been shaped by years of resilience and passion. "It's really important, especially for Black-owned businesses, to get the recognition that they do deserve, especially the local ones that have been here for 15 years and people might not have known about them," said uest Raysa Chouwdhury. "Food always makes people happy. It's for the soul. So if you can, you know, get to someone's soul, it's important. It's a way to bring people together," Drakes said. CBS News New York is a proud partner of Juneteenth NYC. The celebration continues this weekend with the Juneteenth NYC Festival at Gershwin Park in Brooklyn, where our team will host a pop-up newsroom for the second year in a row. Have a story idea or tip in Brooklyn? Email Hannah by CLICKING HERE.
Associated Press
27 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Minnesota women's coach Dawn Plitzuweit gets 2-year contract extension with raise
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit has received a two-year contract extension that was approved Thursday by the university's board of regents. Plitzuweit is 47-29 over two seasons at Minnesota, including 13-23 in Big Ten play, with leading scorer Mara Braun missing much of them with foot injuries. The Gophers capped Plitzuweit's second year by winning the WBIT championship. They have not appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 2018. The new deal, which covers the next six seasons through 2031, gives Plitzuweit a raise of roughly 7% to bring her base salary to $900,000 for 2025-26, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune, with annual increases of $30,000. That's in the middle of the pack in the 18-team Big Ten, which sent 12 of them to the NCAA Tournament this year. Plitzuweit was hired away from West Virginia, where she spent one season, to replace Lindsay Whalen. Plitzuweit is the 13th head coach in the program's history. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women's college basketball: and
Associated Press
27 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Civale says he wants to continue starting - in Milwaukee or elsewhere - after Brewers put him in pen
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Aaron Civale is moving to a bullpen role for the first time in his seven-year career. His next move could be out of Milwaukee entirely. One day after the Brewers announced they were shifting him to the bullpen to make room for flame-throwing prospect Jacob Misiorowski in the rotation, Civale said he wants to continue starting, even if that means getting traded. 'We're exploring opportunities for me to get back into a rotation, whether that's here or elsewhere,' Civale said Thursday. 'That type of decision is out of my hands. We're exploring the options to give me the chance to do what I do best, and that's to go out there and start.' Civale, who turned 30 on Thursday and is eligible for free agency after the season, spoke to the media before Misiorowski made his major league debut in the opener of a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals. Misiorowski's arrival gave Milwaukee a surplus of starting pitchers. Civale (1-2, 4.91 ERA) was the odd man out when the Brewers opted to go with a rotation of Misiorowski, Freddy Peralta (5-4, 2.69), José Quintana (4-1, 2.66), Quinn Priester (4-2 3.65) and Chad Patrick (3-6, 3.25). 'I'm not trying to leave this organization,' Civale said. 'I'm in a position physically where I feel like I can contribute best as a starting pitcher. Right now, that's not in my plans here. That's not to say that can't change, but the reason that would change is not necessarily a good thing. That means something happened to somebody else.' Although Civale has made two career postseason relief appearances in 2022 with Cleveland and 2024 with Milwaukee, he has been a starter for all his regular-season performances in the major leagues and minor leagues. Civale said his last regular-season relief performance came in college at Northeastern. 'Whatever's next, I'm not exactly sure what's going on,' said Civale, who owns a 40-37 carer record with a 4.06 ERA. 'This is typically early in the season for a trade to go down, but I know what I can do. I think a lot of people know what I can do. Whatever the next steps are, they are. Go from there.' Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said he doesn't believe Civale's disenchantment should cause a distraction that might hinder the Brewers. 'We deal with players being unhappy all the time,' Murphy said. 'That's their right to do. Aaron's got a great history. He's performed well for this organization. He's got a right to feel the way he wants to feel. Now it's time for him to go behave, and he's got to go pitch for us if we ask him to pitch for us. And I think he will. He's that type of guy. I respect him a great deal.' Civale said he will do what the team wants from him. Civale said he'd be ready to work out of the bullpen as early as Saturday, since that would be five days after his last start. 'If I end up finding my way back to the rotation here, that's awesome,' Civale said. 'If it's somewhere else, that's awesome too. But for the time being, I'll do what's asked of me, go out there and compete . That's what I do best.' The Brewers acquired Civale from the Tampa Bay Rays last July, and he signed a one-year, $8 million contract in the offseason that enabled him to avoid arbitration. Civale had joined Tampa Bay a year earlier in a trade-deadline deal with the Cleveland Guardians. Civale went on the injured list thsis year after straining his hamstring in his first start of the season, a 12-3 loss to the New York Yankees before going on the injured list with a hamstring strain. He returned to action May 22 and has allowed seven runs over 19 innings in four starts since. 'This is not a situation where I'm trying to leave this team,' Civale said. 'The other guys are great. The coaching staff's great. The players are great. I really love competing with all of them. It's just I feel like I still have more to contribute and more to this game, and I feel like I'm best suited to do that as a starting pitcher. I've worked very hard to get to this position. 'There's no ill will toward anybody. This city has been a great home to me and my wife for the past year. I know there's probably going to be some animosity towards this type of thing. There's a negative connotation when this type of thing comes around, but I'm just trying to do what's best.' ___ AP MLB:
