​Dak Prescott gets a positive update regarding George Pickens ahead of Cowboys camp, originally published by The Sporting News. The Sporting News should be listed as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Pickens is still under the franchise tag, but Dallas has already received an encouraging signal before training camp begins. His choice to join Prescott’s offseason workouts indicates that contract uncertainty has not dampened his commitment to the team.
The Cowboys didn’t seem worried at all that Pickens would hold out into training camp. While the wide receiver skipped voluntary organized team activities, teammates and leaders consistently voiced confidence that he would be ready once mandatory work started and camp approached. That confidence now appears justified. According to Clarence Hill of the Dallas Cowboys, Pickens is taking part in Prescott’s annual offseason workout in Park City, Utah, alongside Dallas’s skill-position players, before the squad reports to Oxnard later this month. The gathering brings together CeeDee Lamb, the rest of the wide receiver group, running backs, tight ends, and backup quarterbacks Joe Milton and Sam Howell. Though informal, these workouts provide a crucial chance for Prescott to build chemistry with his teammates ahead of the regular practice slate.
Pickens enters the season on the franchise tag, guaranteeing him $27 million for 2026. Dallas chose not to pursue a long-term extension this offseason, leaving room for contract talks after the season ends. Even with that uncertainty, the organization has repeatedly underlined Pickens’s eagerness to compete. Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, Brian Schottenheimer, and Prescott all expressed confidence throughout the offseason that the receiver remained dedicated to the team despite missing voluntary sessions. Schottenheimer reinforced that belief when Pickens reported for mandatory minicamp, saying he never questioned the receiver’s investment in the locker room or his drive to help Dallas contend for a Super Bowl.
The upcoming season stands as the biggest test for both sides. Pickens has a clear opportunity to boost his long-term value with another strong year, while the Cowboys will assess whether he merits a continued role in the franchise’s long-term plans after the 2026 season. The narrative around this development unfolds amid broader storylines, including projected impact from a future Hall of Fame pass rusher in a Cowboys uniform stirring excitement, ESPN’s measured Cowboys ranking heading into 2026, lingering pressure from a financial lawsuit involving a former Cowboys standout, questions about the Seahawks’ decisions affecting Sam Darnold, and Dallas’s unresolved offensive line concerns surrounding Dak Prescott’s blind side—all shaping the dialogue as the team prepares for the new season.