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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy (19) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski) (Rick Osentoski/AP)
OXNARD, Calif. — Immediately after the Cowboys acquired George Pickens last off-season, Pickens and fellow star receiver CeeDee Lamb pushed a joint agenda. Pickens wouldn't be looked at as the No. 2 to Lamb. He wouldn't be considered the Robin to his Batman. Instead, speaking at a softball event in Arizona, Lamb and Pickens declared they were both No. 1 receivers.
1A and 1B, however people wanted to assign those roles.
This year, could there be a 1C emerging?
"[Ryan] Flournoy is a guy," Lamb said on Saturday. "The way he's developed in the last ... seven to eight months, or really just later on in the season, you could see him emerge and start feeling himself."
The receiving trio was on display on Saturday. All three of them had touchdown catches from quarterback Dak Prescott in red-zone situations against the Cowboys' starting passing defense.
Flournoy, himself, has spoken about his increased confidence heading into his third season. That's been echoed by his teammates and coaches, who have all spoken glowingly about Flournoy's work ethic and what he can do heading into this season.
But how high can Flournoy climb? The Cowboys have a lot of mouths to feed on an offense that finished fifth in scoring last year. They also have tight end Jake Ferguson and starting running back JaVonte Williams. It's also rare that a team could have three 1,000-yard receivers. It's happened five times, according to Pro Football Reference. The last time was 2008 when Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston each had 1,000-yards receiving for the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys had a chance to do it in 2020 with Lamb (935), Michael Gallup (843) and Amari Cooper (1,114), but the trio came up just short.
Lamb and Pickens were both 1,000-yard receivers a year ago. When asked specifically if Flournoy could join them, Lamb said yes.
"His routes, he's crisped them up, he got a little juice to him, he has flavor and he has confidence," Lamb said of Flournoy. "He's an amazing talent. He can be a 1,000-yard receiver in this offense."
Flournoy has already matched Lamb and Pickens in one aspect. The trio sticks out in training camp with their signature gold helmet visors. Maybe that was the first step in becoming 1C.
Soaking it in
It was a packed house at the River Ridge playing fields for Cowboys training camp on Saturday. The first weekend practice also marked the annual opening ceremonies, even though training camp has already been going on since Wednesday. The line of cars started building in the morning and stayed long until training camp started. Even Oxnard Mayor Luis A. McArthur said he had to run through crowds in order to make it to the ceremony because he had to park so far away.
Add in the fact that there was no contract drama, and it was a very positive vibe from Cowboys fans. That was especially true when team owner Jerry Jones started signing autographs. He signed for many. A man dressed up in a Cowboys-themed Luchador helmet even asked Jones to sign his head, to which Jones happily obliged. Jones even posed for a selfie with a fan who said their grandmother wanted to say hi. Only one person was heard asking Jones to "sell the team," marking an improvement from the drama of the past few seasons.
Prior to practice, while he was signing autographs, Jones was asked if the turnout meant Cowboys fans believed in this team as much as he does.
"They're drinking the same water I am," Jones said with a smile.
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones holds up a medallion presented to him by Oxnard Mayor Luis A. McArthur during opening ceremonies for the team’s training camp on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in Oxnard, Calif. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)
Notable
— The Cowboys were without three defensive backs on Saturday. P.J Locke (knee), Jalen Thompson (hip) and Zion Childress (hamstring) were all out. Of note: that meant the Cowboys moved rookie Caleb Downs into the starting safety spot next to Malik Hooker in base defense and then moved Downs back to his nickel corner spot when they added Markquese Bell as an extra defensive back.
— Cowboys third-round pick Jaishawn Barham has been one of the talks of training camp. He showed why on Saturday. He rotated a lot at starting inside linebacker with Dee Winters. He had multiple standout plays, including a pass breakup at the goal line.
— Downs and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford nearly got into a skirmish. Downs gave Spann-Ford a late pop to the helmet. Spann-Ford replied by pushing the rookie in the back. It fizzled out from there. Later on, Donovan Ezeiruaku and left tackle Tyler Guyton got into it with each other. The competition level is increasing, but it hasn't gone over the edge yet.
— Undrafted rookie tight end Michael Trigg and wide receiver Camden Brown both had touchdown catches on Saturday in red zone.
— Safety Julius Wood had back-to-back impressive plays at one point in team drills.
— First-round pick Malachi Lawrence had a pressure on Prescott that probably would've been a sack. Instead, Prescott rolled out and was nearly intercepted by Downs in the back of the endzone.
— Cowboys are off on Sunday and will practice in pads on Monday.
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