Who are the Cowboys who’ve impressed coach Mike McCarthy at training camp? What did he say?

Now that the Cowboys are heading into the third week of training camp, some players have started to stand out, and head coach Mike McCarthy has mentioned which ones have impressed him so far. On the defense, McCarthy said the whole safety unit has stood out to him, but players he specifically mentioned were corners Jourdan Lewis and DaRon Bland and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. On offense, he mentioned receivers Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks, running back Rico Dowdle, fullback Hunter Luepke, and tight end Princeton Fant. Here’s what McCarthy said about them.

Defensive players who stood out to McCarthy in training camp

Jourdan Lewis, cornerback

Jourdan Lewis spent almost all of his 2022 season with a foot injury that nearly ended his NFL career. By 2023, he’d made a comeback, participating in 16 games with eight starts. He ended the season with one interception, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

2024 will be the first season since then that he’s completely healthy, and he’s already making an impression on McCarthy, who said he’s “having a hell of a camp”.

DaRon Bland, cornerback

McCarthy quickly mentioned DaRon Bland as another player who stood out to him after fellow corner Jourdan Lewis. Last season, Bland led the league with nine interceptions and set a record for most pick-sixes in a single season (five). In Diggs’ absence, Bland stepped up in a big way. This season, they’re expected to be a dangerous duo and McCarthy seems to agree that Bland is just getting better.

DeMarvion Overshown, linebacker

DeMarvion Overshown was the Cowboys’ third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but had to sit out the season with a torn ACL he suffered in the preseason. Now he’s back and the team has high expectations. So far in training camp, he’s living up to those.

“Overshown jumps off the tape at you,’’ McCarthy said. “No question there.’’

“He has great energy. He’s had that since the day he walked in here. His light is bright. He has an infectious personality. Everything he does is full speed and you obviously [saw] it at the University of Texas. He was everywhere; the way he played, his play style.

Offensive players who stood out to McCarthy in training camp

Jalen Tolbert, wide receiver

This year’s training camp involves a competition for the WR3 role behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. Jalen Tolbert was expected to fill that role and he has a long way to go from last season. He has been making impressive plays at training camp so far though. McCarthy told reporters that Tolbert has improved “everything” already.

“He’s just really completed his game, just like any young player that comes in the league and his case in particular, after his rookie year he’s like ‘hey I got to get stronger and I’ve got to play more physical,’ and and I’m not just talking run blocking,” said McCarthy. “I’m talking about in his route running, particularly when he gets to the top of his stem, the breaking point.”

“I think [Tolbert] is taking a big big step and he’s one of those young men that is in there every day, he’s always looking for work, I mean, he’s traveled the country in that off time, so does all the little things, and he’s a true professional,” McCarthy said. “I could recall his rookie his rookie training camp, on off days you [he was] looking for assistance and the detail on his note taking I mean he had a notebook that was pristine in that area, so now we’re seeing the benefits of that.”

Jalen Brooks, wide receiver

Jalen Brooks is in competition with Tolbert for the WR3 position and he’s also impressed McCarthy in camp so far. He didn’t get many opportunities last season, so he’s got a lot of proving to do. So far, so good.

Princeton Fant, tight end

Princeton Fant was one of the more surprising players that McCarthy mentioned has impressed him in training camp. Last season, Fant only made it to the practice squad, but was elevated twice and played exclusively on special teams. Fant has a lot of competition ahead of him on the tight end depth chart, but so far, the coach has liked what he’s seen.

Rico Dowdle, running back

According to Cowboys team reporter Nicole Hutchinson, McCarthy said Dowdle “is having a HELL of a camp”. The Cowboys are planning to use a committee approach at the running back position this year after losing their top back, Tony Pollard, and re-signing Ezekiel Elliott. So far in training camp, Dowdle is showing why he deserves to be part of the rotation, and maybe even take over as the top running back.

Hunter Luepke, fullback

Hunter Luepke is the one fullback on the roster this season, and in training camp, he’s managed to impress McCarthy and the rest of the coaching staff as well. Jerry Jones said he sees Luepke as a “big part of the offense” this season and that McCarthy “loves his versatility.”