As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for their 2025-26 NFL regular season opener against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on September 4 at Lincoln Financial Field, the team has finally put a turbulent offseason behind them. The cloud of drama surrounding star linebacker Micah Parsons, who was traded to the Green Bay Packers, no longer looms over the franchise. With training camp and preseason distractions in the rearview, the Cowboys are laser-focused on their Week 1 NFC showdown.
Following an open practice session on Sunday afternoon, select players spoke to the media, offering insight into the team’s mindset. Quarterback Dak Prescott, the heartbeat of the Cowboys’ locker room, addressed the Parsons trade with his trademark candor and leadership. While he expressed genuine happiness for Parsons securing a lucrative contract, Prescott made it clear that the team has moved on, ready to embrace a new chapter.
“I’m not going to say we’re better. We’ve got to go out there and prove it. We had to prove it even if he was on this team, so I’m not going to say that by any means,” Prescott said, via ESPN.com. “But I know what adding a guy like Kenny Clark means—a true leader, a real man who’s going to elevate this team. He’s a Pro Bowl player and excited to be here.”
Prescott’s focus, like the rest of the locker room, is squarely on the Eagles. “I know our focus right now is Philly. I think that’s everybody’s focus in that locker room. I don’t think anybody’s hung up on [the Parsons trade],” he said. “As much as anything, it’s good that a solution happened. Micah got paid, and he got paid very well. Great for him and his family. We’ll see him in about a month.”
The Cowboys’ decision to part ways with Parsons allowed them to redirect resources to secure other key players. On Sunday, All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland inked a massive four-year, $92 million contract extension, with $50 million guaranteed. The move signals Dallas’ commitment to building a formidable roster around its core players, ensuring long-term stability.
As the Cowboys prepare to face the Eagles in a high-stakes opener, the team’s resolve is clear. The Parsons saga is history, and a new era begins with fresh faces like Kenny Clark stepping up to lead. Fans will get their first glimpse of how this reshaped roster performs in Week 1, but the real test comes in Week 4, when Parsons and the Packers roll into AT&T Stadium for a primetime clash that promises fireworks.
For now, Prescott and the Cowboys are ready to let their play do the talking, proving they’re more than capable of thriving without Parsons—and silencing any doubters in the process.