Phil Mafah, and a familiar linebacker, set the tone for what to watch as Cowboys camp approaches

The Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 training camp is just weeks away, with players expected to report in Oxnard, California, as the team begins the work that leads to the regular season, the playoffs, and, in Dallas’ case, another push toward the Super Bowl. Ahead of that phase, Yahoo Sports highlighted a pair of players to watch on each side of the ball, including Phil Mafah on offense, where the running back depth chart beyond Javonte Williams is still described as unsettled.

According to Yahoo Sports, the competition for the second running back spot is open enough that Mafah could separate himself during camp. The second-year pro is described as healthy after dealing with a nagging shoulder injury for much of last season, a factor that can matter because a reduced spring and early-season limitations often show up in how a player handles contact, route timing, and repeat effort over the long grind.

The same report frames Mafah’s physical profile and style as part of the appeal for a potential role expansion. Yahoo Sports lists him at 6 feet tall and 234 pounds and describes his running as “downhill and physical,” attributes that can translate to short-yardage and power-oriented work. It also points to a tangible payoff from last season, noting that Mafah scored his first touchdown in Week 18 against the Giants, an example of him reaching the end zone when the offense got into scoring territory late in the year.

Yahoo Sports also connects the camp-or-bust storyline to what Mafah has done when the team moved toward the offseason work. The report says he has stood out during OTAs and cites a quote from Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Harris reported that Mafah “looked good with his first-team reps,” grabbed a touchdown during red-zone work, and drew praise for being “night-and-day” different from last year, based on reporting from a source close to the program.

The “surprise” logic is not just about getting reps, but about finding a specific niche and then making it stick. Yahoo Sports suggests Mafah could first carve out a role as the back who can move the pile and handle short-yardage situations, with the possibility that the preseason execution extends beyond one defined package. For a team that often rotates backfield personnel by down and opponent, that path matters because the second back job is frequently won by reliability in a limited set of high-leverage snaps.

On defense, Yahoo Sports shifts the spotlight to a player named Winters. The report indicates that the internal question is less about whether he makes an inside linebacker spot, calling him essentially a lock to nab one of the starting roles, and more about whether he can “shine” and deliver more of what was shown during last season’s production. In that framing, Winters’ camp becomes a test of consistency rather than simply earning a place on the field.

The practical takeaway for Dallas fans is that training camp will likely feature two related themes. First, the Cowboys appear to be looking for clarity behind Javonte Williams, where a healthy Mafah could turn physical traits and a late-season scoring moment into a clearer role. Second, the defense’s storyline is about converting a solid baseline into a more visible, repeatable impact at inside linebacker.

What to watch next is simple but concrete: how the Cowboys distribute first-team and early-down reps for Mafah as camp develops, and whether Winters builds on last year’s strengths in a way that shows up across multiple practice sessions rather than isolated stretches. If Dallas finds a reliable short-yardage punch and tighter linebacker play, it reduces the variables the team will have to solve during the season-long run. For now, the reports leave room for surprises, but they also underscore how quickly roles can solidify or fade once full-contact work begins.