OXNARD, Calif. — Cowboys fans have been waiting all offseason to see what Dallas’ revamped defense looks like in a real game.
They may not have to wait much longer to get their first glimpse of two of the biggest pieces of that rebuild.
First-round picks Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence are expected to see the field Saturday night when the Cowboys open the preseason against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that both rookies are expected to “play a little bit,” although the coaching staff was still determining the exact rotations and number of snaps each player will receive.
For Downs, Saturday represents the first opportunity to see the highly touted safety transition from an impressive training camp into live NFL action.
Dallas moved up to No. 11 overall to select Downs out of Ohio State, making him one of the central pieces of the Cowboys’ effort to improve a defense that struggled badly last season.
Downs has already generated plenty of attention during camp. His instincts, range and ability to make plays from the back end have been evident throughout the Cowboys’ time in Oxnard.
Now comes the part coaches and fans have been waiting for — seeing those skills against another NFL team.
Lawrence, meanwhile, was Dallas’ second first-round selection at No. 23 overall. The former UCF edge rusher has quietly become one of the rookies to watch during camp and could provide another athletic presence along the defensive front.
Neither rookie is expected to receive an extended workload Saturday. The Cowboys have made it clear that many established starters will sit out the preseason, putting even more emphasis on evaluating younger players and roster battles.
That makes the limited opportunities for Downs and Lawrence important.
For Downs, the questions will center on how quickly he processes the speed of the game, communicates with the secondary and reacts when the Seahawks begin testing him.
For Lawrence, it will be about the pass rush — getting off the ball, setting the edge and showing whether his athletic ability can translate against NFL offensive linemen.
Saturday’s game will not determine what either player becomes in 2026.
But it will provide the first real measuring stick.
And for a Cowboys defense undergoing a significant makeover, getting an early look at two first-round building blocks is one of the biggest storylines heading into the preseason opener.
The Cowboys and Seahawks kick off at 7 p.m. CT Saturday at Lumen Field in Seattle.
For Dallas fans, the wait is almost over.
Caleb Downs is about to become a Cowboy on game day.
