Caleb Downs began creeping toward the line of scrimmage, seeing Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart scouting coverage. From the slot, the Cowboys rookie took off like a rocket in moments, unaccounted for by New York’s defense. Downs blasted Dart at full speed from his blind side, causing a fumble that, fortunately for the Giants, was caught mid-air by left guard Jon Runyan Jr.
Dallas’ defense struggled mightily in the team’s 28-20 season-opening loss Sunday to the Giants, and Downs was not without mistakes. But that sack, the first of his NFL career, was a taste of the play the Cowboys expect from the No. 1 pick. 11 general as a fundamental part in their renewed defense.
Coming out of Ohio State, Downs was hailed as a generational safety prospect. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called him a “nickel defensive back.” Dallas vice president of player personnel Will McClay said: “He’s a multiplier. He’s going to make other people better.”
As Downs prepares for the Cowboys’ home opener against the Washington Commanders on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX), his history suggests he’ll attack those expectations with purpose.
Chris Rudnick remembers when Downs was late to a practice session this offseason.
There were factors he “couldn’t control,” but he still showed up 20 to 30 minutes after the scheduled start time. So, in Downs’ mind, this needed to be addressed.
“For him, (in his) early 20s, to come in and admit a mistake even though it wasn’t his fault, apologize and look us in the eye and say, ‘Hey, sorry for wasting your time?'” Rudnick, a strength coach for Atlanta-based Adapt, told me. “I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve apologized for people being late, whether it was their fault or not.
“When Caleb says he’ll be here, he will be to be here“- continued Rudnick. “Caleb is not someone who likes to be late.”
Shortly after being drafted by the Cowboys, Caleb Downs admires the team’s five Super Bowl trophies as he tours Star’s facility in Frisco, Texas. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images)
That kind of responsibility is a given for Downs, according to those who have worked with him at Adapt. He doesn’t need to be motivated. He attacks every rep and workout. He always asks questions. In group sessions, he finishes his sets and watches everyone’s repetitions intently until it’s his turn again.
“It’s like every practice is the most important practice. He’s not dialing anything in and I think that shows,” Rudnick told me. “I think what sets him apart from maybe some other athletes, especially athletes at that level, is … Caleb will continue to ask questions.
“He’s someone who’s willing to have a back-and-forth and he’s looking for a back-and-forth because he doesn’t want to be satisfied with just doing it OK. He wants to do it very, very well. And if he doesn’t feel like he’s demonstrating something to the level it needs to be, there’s going to be dialogue.”
It’s the same story on the pitch.
In Cowboys training camp, Downs was regularly tasked with covering CeeDee Lamb, one of football’s best receivers. Downs had ongoing conversations with the perennial Pro Bowler about what he was seeing from him and the techniques he was using, information he could use against opposing players in games.
“He’s very willing. He’s very curious,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker said during training camp. “He has that natural spirit about him.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer saw leadership throughout Downs’ film at Ohio State. When he spoke to his fellow defenders, he didn’t ask for anyone’s opinion.
“He’s making that call,” Schottenheimer explained in the spring, “and that’s what you’re doing.”
Downs has to earn that kind of respect in the Dallas defense. But he is on his way. This is how his habits tell you.
In team workouts this offseason, before playing an NFL game, he always jumped forward for drills. It didn’t matter if there were established professionals.
Downs was usually first in line for Cowboys training camp drills. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
The college players who got up with Downs became more relaxed when he was on the grass. The more skilled players looked at the weight he was moving with his 206-pound frame, then were more inclined to add weight to their sets. Downs paid close attention to their repetitions, offering advice as needed.
“He’s not necessarily trying to be the loudest guy out there,” Adapt coach JT Alphabet told me. “But guys naturally follow his lead because of the way he works.”
Added Rudnick: “He just comes with this vibe almost like a veteran mentality.”
It also shows in the way Downs sees the game.
Here’s how, as a true freshman in 2023, he led Alabama in hitting. As a teenager, he mastered Nick Saban’s defense — then did the same with Matt Patricia’s scheme at Ohio State, where he was a two-time unanimous All-American.
“I feel like my mind really puts me above a lot of people in terms of how I process the game and play with instincts,” Downs said at the NFL Combine. “I feel like that’s what makes me special.”
Alabama coach Nick Saban and Caleb Downs celebrate after defeating Georgia 27-24 in the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 2, 2023. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
He has a high football IQ and processes information “very quickly,” according to Rudnick. Downs’ ability is why the Cowboys trust him to learn two positions as a rookie, nickel and safety. He played 61 of Dallas’ 69 defensive snaps in his regular-season debut (88%) — 34 in the slot, 18 in the box and nine at free safety, according to Pro Football Focus.
After the game, Downs told CBS Sports: “I think I can play the run game really well. Play the pass game, whatever it is, whether it’s man or drop zones. I’m an extra corner or extra linebacker. Whatever you need.”
Including the nickel sack, Downs had seven tackles against the Giants.
“I thought Caleb played really, really well,” Schottenheimer said. “Jaxson Dart never saw it on the blitz. He gets a free run and the ball goes spiraling in the air, and the 320-pound guard (Runyan) catches it and rumbles for five yards. That’s how the night went for us. But I think that’s one of the positives of what we did defensively: We had attacked the four-ball for the ball.
“Caleb is a guy who can move, but we like him near the line of scrimmage.”
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia shows his appreciation for Downs during his 2025 All-American season. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Downs underwent a baptism of fire in his first NFL training camp. In addition to facing teammates Lamb and George Pickens, he faced stars Puka Nacua and Chris Olave in joint practices against the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints, respectively.
He embraced them all. This is where his confidence comes from. Reps against some of the league’s best receivers show him where he needs to be.
“Mike Tyson says success breeds confidence and confidence breeds success,” Downs said in August. “I feel like those two work together, and when you win at things and do well at things, it allows you to feel more confident. When you have success, it just keeps growing from there.”
rancher don’t see Downs as a rookie. They see it as a culture changer.
“He’s a guy we expect to play a lot,” veteran Cowboys safety Malik Hooker said in August. “And not just play hard, but be a difference maker on our defense.”
Downs’ intent is not to make individual highlights of poor team performances. It is being a cornerstone that plays an integral role in lasting success.
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