FRISCO — Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer stopped on his usual jaunt to the practice field Thursday and posed for a photo with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. His normal jaunt then turned into a sprint.
“That’s my birthday present,” he yelled multiple times, excitedly.
Having Lamb back after missing three weeks will evoke that type of excitement. A better present for the 52-year-old Schottenheimer, however, would undoubtedly be a win against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Can the Cowboys deliver that present?
Cowboys
Here are five final thoughts this week as we gear up for that divisional showdown at AT&T Stadium:
Take your Pick(ens)
Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens has been a pleasant surprise when it comes to his fit with his new team. Players and coaches have applauded him for the type of teammate he’s been off the field. There’s been a surprise on the field, too.
In Pittsburgh, Pickens might’ve been a limited weapon. He mentioned multiple times since he arrived that he was mostly asked to use his 6-3 frame and leaping ability on vertical routes. For perspective: He ran vertical routes nearly half the time in 2023, according to ESPN.
The Cowboys were limited in how they used him initially, as well. When Lamb was injured, however, they added more to Pickens’ plate from a route-running and motion standpoint. It went better than expected. Pickens had 19 catches for 359 yards and three touchdowns in the three games without Lamb. He set a new career-high twice — and opened the eyes of his coaching staff.
“He does have more range than probably we had anticipated,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams said. “There’s — because of his body type — certainly things he does better. Your typical X [receiver] route tree. He’s a lot better with the ball in his hands after the catch than some of the people that played his body type around. He’s shown us a little bit more range in that way.”
The Cowboys believe that also opens the door for more possibilities with Lamb back. They’ll have the chance to showcase that full tandem Sunday.
Related
A big play waiting to happen
Speaking of players coming back, the Cowboys also are expected to see the return of wide receiver/returner KaVontae Turpin, who missed the last two weeks with a foot sprain. Cowboys special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen put it simply when asked how much of a boost Turpin can provide.
“He’s the most dynamic returner in the game,” Sorensen said. “So you missed that.”
Turpin was limited in practice this week, but Sorensen said once he’s ready to go, he’ll be ready to go. Will he be ready to make a difference like he did against the Commanders last year?
Turpin had perhaps the best play of his NFL career when he initially mishandled a kickoff return and then performed a spin move that set the whole Washington kickoff unit off kilter in their first meeting last season, setting up a spectacular touchdown return.
The Cowboys could use that type of boost Sunday — especially when the margin between winning and losing has been so slim for them.
A big play needing to happen
The Cowboys paid starting outside corners Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland — the latter happened this season — because of their ability to get their hands on the ball. Diggs had a season with 11 interceptions. Bland had a season where he set the NFL record for interception returns for a touchdown.
Through six weeks, the two have combined for zero.
There are a lot of changes that need to happen in the Cowboys defense. Generating turnovers, especially with those two, is high on that list, whether it’s putting them in more man-to-man situations, or it’s them being more aggressive and in better alignment.
Good news for the Cowboys: There could be some help from Washington. The Commanders were without Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel in practice Thursday. They had seven receivers on the practice field; four were practice squad players.
Spy game
In the Cowboys’ season opener, it wasn’t the Eagles’ passing attack that won. Ultimately, the difference was what quarterback Jalen Hurts did with his legs, finishing with 62 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has that ability, too. If the Cowboys want to win, they can’t let Daniels escape the pocket and run on them.
“I think they’re running their offense,” defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said.
To the Cowboys’ credit: they did improve against the last running quarterback they faced. They held New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields to 26 yards on seven carries. They also had a season-high five sacks in that game. They utilized linebacker Kenneth Murray as a spy in some occasions against Fields.
They probably will have to do the same to limit Daniels.
Here we go — again
Indoor stadiums are supposed to eliminate the need to check forecasts, right? That’s not necessarily true when your stadium is built on an east-west axis with massive windows allowing plenty of natural — and harsh — sunlight in.
The Cowboys will have their first afternoon kickoff at home Sunday. That means the topic of the sunlight has been brought up again this week.
Schottenheimer is no stranger to it. He’s been around. He joked — we think — that the team has satellite imaging to track the direction of the sun and it’s E.T.A. — Estimated Time of Annoyance — for being in the viewpoint of players. There’s been multiple occasions where the sun has played a factor at Cowboys games, including in the postseason. Schottenheimer cautioned its impact, however.
“I think when you look at historically at what’s happened it really hasn’t affected many situations. We plan for it. The opponents plan for it. But at the end of the day, it’s something that we’re aware of,” he said.
“It’s very beautiful. It’s majestic when the sun comes through there.”
Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady agrees. He’s played in it before. He even had one of his favorite photos of his career happen when facing the sun against the Cowboys in 2015.
Tom Brady talking about the first time he played at AT&T Stadium and the infamous photo of him facing the glare of the sun.
Later in the same clip not shown, Brady gave advice to QBs who face the glare: “…Listen quarterbacks, just go in there and make it happen. How hard is… pic.twitter.com/vnTLmIaJKu
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) October 16, 2025
“That’s all you gotta think about, think about how it’s going to look like on that one photo of you standing in the end zone, with the light shining through, in the backdrop,” Brady said in a Fox Sports video with a hint of sarcasm. “Listen, quarterbacks, just go in there and make it happen. How hard is that? I did it.”
The Cowboys and Commanders will have to do it Sunday.
Oh, by the way, the forecast calls for clear skies Sunday with an estimated sunset of 6:50 p.m.
Brian Schottenheimer’s reaction to Trevon Diggs news was telling for a 1st-year head coach
Schottenheimer was calm and collected Friday despite news of his starting corner’s ‘out’ status for Sunday’s matchup vs. Washington.
Cowboys WR, KR KaVontae Turpin ready to make impact upon return from injury
The Cowboys are ranked 29th in kickoff return average, as Turpin missed the last two games with a foot injury.
Cowboys excited for guard Tyler Booker’s expected return to lineup vs. Washington
Booker has missed the past three games with a high-ankle sprain.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.