Just when the dust from the joint practice settled, there was yet another altercation in Oxnard. This time, it wasn’t a fight with another team that took the spotlight, but one between an offensive and defensive player: DeMarvion Overshown and Jake Ferguson.

While practice started off smoothly on both sides of the scrimmage, things came to a head when Ferguson went up against the linebacker. 

“Overshown got into it with Jake Ferguson after a pass over the middle. They were quickly separated after throwing some shoves,” Star Telegram’s Nick Harris shared on X. 

Now, longtime fans of the tight end know he’s not one to get into fights. He even said so two years ago, right after he got punched by Donovan Wilson for a stiff arm in a practice session before the Cowboys took on the Los Angeles Rams. This time, it was Ferguson who started the incident. 

Per The Athletic’s Jon Machota, Ferguson “didn’t appear to like something that happened on a tackle, threw the ball at Overshown.” 

However, it looks like the Cowboys have learned their lesson. They did not allow things to get out of hand this time, jumping into the situation and pulling the two apart. More importantly, for the team, neither player was hurt in the altercation. 

Overshown already had an injury scare early on in the session. He headed to the sideline after a run play and spoke with Cowboys associate athletic trainer/director of rehabilitation Britt Brown for several minutes. He then returned to the practice without further problems. 

At the same time, tight end Ferguson’s importance in the offensive unit remains as crucial as ever. His connection with Dak Prescott from last season has continued in training camp. Losing him to an injury from such an incident would be unthinkable for the team. 

In any case, it looks like the team has taken a more cautious approach, especially after the NFL made it clear what brawls would result in. The league asked for the film of the joint practice and handed out $500,000 fines for both teams. But these fights won’t just cost the Cowboys. It’s going to cost the players too! 

While Jerry Jones maintained they intend to appeal the fines, he has made it clear that “the players that are involved and the kind of infractions they are fining the club for will certainly receive fines.”

And if we’re looking back at the training camp, it’s a move that should have been implemented earlier in camp. 

On day five, Donovan Ezeiruaku was ejected from Oxnard after he threw a punch. Just two days later, rookie wide receiver Anthony Smith and cornerback Caelen Carson got into a scuffle with plenty of helmet pulling and shoves. 

It reached an entirely new level when they practiced with the Saints. Rookie Brock Rechsteiner tossed Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson to the ground. Meanwhile, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Saints center Erik McCoy faced off in another skirmish. Ezeiruaku was later ejected for throwing a punch. 

While the fines were for the moments against the Saints, Brian Schottenheimer’s team must be careful, especially with the more physical style of football they’re targeting this season. The scuffles we’ve seen this season have been between the offensive and defensive sides. And while both sides have been chippy with each other, they haven’t kept their cool. 

That’s why, when Brian Schottenheimer spoke about the incident with the Saints, he wasn’t entirely disappointed. While the team did receive a fine, they stuck to each other. Now, all they need to do is figure out how to block out the noise. 

“We’re certainly not going to take s— from anybody, but again, it was chippy on both sides,” Brian Schottenheimer said. “I want our guys to play on the edge without going over the edge.

As we head into the final stretch of the preseason, the Cowboys have their work cut out. They’ve kept their star-studded offense from last season and impressed with their defensive rebuild this year. Now, all they need is temperament.