Rams Get Mixed Reviews in Joint Practice Against Cowboys

The Los Angeles Rams had their first of two joint practices this summer. On Tuesday, the Rams practiced against the Dallas Cowboys as they prepare for their first preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Historically, head coach Sean McVay has found more value in joint practices rather than preseason games as it’s a more controlled environment.

Given that the practice was in Woodland Hills and not Oxnard at the Cowboys’ facility, media reporting was limited. The Rams don’t allow the media to comment on specific personnel or report certain details from practice.

Reviews of the Rams’ performance were pretty mixed. Still, McVay seemed pleased with the overall takeaway from the practice.

“There was a lot of good work that we got today against an excellent opponent, just bouncing back and forth. I thought the team periods were competitive and most importantly, we can learn,” said McVay. “These are opportunities for us to grow even though we don't game plan it. We're just testing our rules. There was a lot of good stuff really from both sides and I look forward to looking at the film and diving into how we can learn from it.”

Rams Had Plenty of Positive Moments Against Cowboys

According to team reporter Stu Jackson, quarterback Matthew Stafford threw one interception, but was flawless otherwise. Jackson noted an interception from Quentin Lake and the pass rush getting to Dak Prescott without Myles Garrett. After practice, Stafford made sure to compliment the offensive line, especially in the run game.

The Athletic’s Nate Atkins noted that the Rams’ secondary won the day. Said Atkins, “The Rams’ secondary mostly won the day, thanks to some help from the pass rush. And what stood out was the versatility in their approach.”

Lake on lock. 🔒 pic.twitter.com/IybGv21Lq5
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 12, 2026

Cowboys Media Saw the Practice Differently

However, given some of the reporting limitations, it was mostly Cowboys media commenting on the practice as it was happening. According to many Cowboys media members, the Rams’ offense struggled at times against Christian Parker’s defense.

The Cowboys’ linebackers reportedly stole the show, especially Dee Winters and Justin Barron. Barron had a pair of interceptions on Stafford and Stetson Bennett. Wide receiver George Pickens also made some plays against the Rams’ secondary.

3️⃣ INTs

Have yourself a day, @justinbarron22 👏#CowboysCamp | @AmericanAir pic.twitter.com/Dfv4SLCtmK
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 11, 2026

Reading the Rams’ coverage, it’s easy to come away with the takeaway that they had a very strong joint practice. On the other hand, Cowboys media would have you believing that they dominated the afternoon.

Rams Got What They Needed From the Cowboys

At the end of the day, the answer is likely somewhere in the middle, and it doesn’t matter as much as many want it to. That’s not to say that joint practices don’t matter. McVay clearly finds value in them. With that said, there’s no game planning involved, and winning a joint practice doesn’t equate to winning games in the regular season. It matters in the same way that the preseason doesn’t matter.

This is simply a chance for the Rams to compete against a different defense and test out some things that they’ve been working on. Since the start of training camp, the Rams have been going up against the same group of players on the other side. Tuesday was an opportunity to compete against another set of players and go against a team that feels different. The Rams aren’t going to show their entire hand against a team that they are set to play in December.

While the Rams may not have been their sharpest, there were still strong moments and McVay seemed pleased with the work they got in. That’s the important part. The Rams will have nearly a month to make adjustments based on what they learned and continue building toward Week 1.

Add us as a preferred source on Google