Cowboys-Saints practice fights disrupt Oxnard session

A joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints in Oxnard, California, was disrupted Tuesday after multiple on-field confrontations escalated into physical clashes. Officials said punches were thrown and helmets were tossed during the workout, and Cowboys outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku was ejected.

The session was part of a shared training schedule intended to replicate game-speed situations ahead of the preseason. Officials said coaches considered ending the practice early as tensions spread across several drills.

Altercations flared during 11-on-11 periods

During those sequences

Officials said the most serious incidents occurred during 11-on-11 work, where full-team reps can intensify competition and increase the risk of tempers boiling over. During those sequences, Saints tight end Brock Rechsteiner body-slammed a Cowboys player, according to an account of the session. The clashes were not limited to one matchup. Officials said Saints center Erik McCoy threw a helmet, and Cowboys cornerback Caelen Carson was among players drawn into the scrums as more teammates converged. Coaches paused the workout as discipline became a concern As the confrontations became harder to contain, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer and Saints coach Kellen Moore temporarily stopped practice to address conduct, officials said. After a period of calm, the teams resumed the workout.

Dallas Cowboys

The session still ended with Ezeiruaku being removed, which officials said was his second ejection of the current offseason. Officials said he had previously been ejected earlier in training camp for throwing a punch.

Schottenheimer said he planned additional conversations with Ezeiruaku and emphasized that this type of behavior damages the team, according to the coach’s remarks. Team staff said internal discussions would follow, along with a review of practice video, as part of efforts to address conduct and reduce the chances of repeat incidents.

CBA rules allow fines for fights in joint practices Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement rules, players who participate in fights during joint practices can be fined. Officials and team staff framed the response as a mix of immediate intervention on the field and follow-up evaluation afterward.

Preseason finale set for August 28

The Cowboys and Saints are scheduled to face each other again in their preseason finale on August 28. With that game approaching, the coaching staffs indicated they would use the remaining time to reinforce expectations on composure so that penalties and discipline issues do not carry into the game environment.