The Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints spent more time breaking up fights than running plays Tuesday during a joint practice at the Cowboys’ training camp in Oxnard, California.
According to the team’s website, DallasCowboys.com, tensions spilled over almost immediately and coaches on both sides discussed ending the session early. The Dallas Morning News reports multiple punches were thrown and at least several team-wide scrums broke out. The Star-Telegram and ESPN also described at least six fights.
Cowboys outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku was ejected after officials saw him throw a punch, DallasCowboys.com confirmed. It was the second time this camp he has been sent off for fighting. The Dallas Morning News reported Saints center Erik McCoy threw a Cowboys helmet into the air during one brawl.
joint practice action 📸#CowboysCamp | @AmericanAir pic.twitter.com/0qeawGCY4i
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 19, 2026
A later fight involved Cowboys cornerback Caelen Carson and Saints receiver Brock Rechsteiner, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner. The Star-Telegram reported Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson tried to break it up and was slammed to the ground. Carson also threw a punch, according to video obtained by the Dallas Morning News, but was not ejected.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer told the Dallas Morning News, “Right now, I’m in charge of fight club.” He said neither team wanted the session to devolve that way. Saints coach Kellen Moore, a former Cowboys player and assistant, told reporters the day was not the ideal flow of a joint practice but that New Orleans still got the work it needed.
The Guardian reported Saints receiver Ronnie Bell was carted off after getting overheated following one of the fights. Moore said Bell needed to go inside for a while. FOX 8 in New Orleans also noted Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) and Quincy Riley (groin) left practice early.
The teams still finished the workout after the fighting slowed. They are scheduled to meet in a preseason game on Aug. 28.
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