Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons stand out on first day of Dallas Cowboys training camp

The Dallas Cowboys opened training camp with their first practice Tuesday adhering to the NFL’s rule for a gradual ramp-up.

The practice lasted one hour and 23 minutes and with no pads. It will be that way for the first four days until they go with full pads on Monday following a day off Sunday.

“The focus is on working through at a slower, more controlled pace,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “It will be shorter practices. We’re in the ramp-up phase. So, obviously a little different than the traditional schedule, but it gives us a chance to get with our guys and get their legs under them.”

Still, there remains something special and exciting about the first day of practice, a newness that had the Cowboys running with a little pep in their step.

As running back Ezekiel Elliott said, this is the last day that everyone will be fresh and fully healthy until the end of the season.

Here are a few practice observations from Wednesday:

1. Quarterback Dak Prescott looked every bit the part of the team’s franchise quarterback. Aside from a poor throw that resulted in a pick-six by Anthony Brown, Prescott was calm and on point. A perfect example was during team drills when he scrambled to the left in the face of an all-out blitz and found tight end Dalton Schultz for a first down. He also connected with rookie receiver Jalen Tolbert, who made a leaping catch on the right sideline for the play of the day on offense. Prescott had James Washington deep on a go route but the receiver did not do a good job tracking the ball.

2. The Cowboys are all-in on the increased use of running back Tony Pollard in tandem with Ezekiel Elliott and also as a slot receiver. Pollard opened 11-on-11 drills with the first-team offense as slot receiver. He ended practice as the primary third-down back in the 2-minute drill with Elliott on the sidelines. The Cowboys are committed to making Pollard a viable weapon in the offense.

“Tony’s a hell of a player,” Elliott said. “His elusivity, his explosiveness. I think I go in and pound them a little bit then he goes in there and is going to break some long ones.”

3. First-round pick Tyler Smith opened camp alternating with Connor McGovern at left guard. It was McGovern who got the initial reps with the first-team offense. That is how the Cowboys worked in organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp. Smith is the favorite to win the competition and he worked with the first team during 2-minute drills. He said he spent the time before camp working with noted line guru Duke Manyweather to refine his technique and trim his physique. His sleeker appearance is notable.

4. Just like last season, standout linebacker Micah Parsons was all over the field on the first day of practice. In addition to middle linebacker, he lined up at left end and at right end. One of the most impressive plays of practice was when he lined up at right end and flew past perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith for a would-be sack of Prescott. With no tackling, Prescott kept rolling to his left and Parsons tracked him for a second sack on the same play.

5. Cornerback Anthony Brown had the defensive play of the day, jumping a Prescott pass to rookie Jalen Tolbert and returning it for a pick-six. It was the first interception of training camp and a clear sign that Brown has no intention of relinquishing his starting job to Kelvin Joseph. As he spent time after practice playing with his kids, a supremely confident Brown said of the interception, “I do what I do.”