Matthew Stafford offers verdict after Rams’ war of words with Cowboys initiated by Dak Prescott

The Los Angeles Rams held a scrimmage with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday at the Rams’ facility in Woodland Hills.

Scuffles are common in joint practices (the 49ers and Titans just recently got into it), and although things didn’t get physical between Dallas and LA, things did get a little chippy after the session had concluded.

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Before the practice had even started, Cowboys quarterback Dak Presott appeared to initiate a war of words.

“Tell ‘em bet the clocks on today. Winner takes the f****** clocks. We’ll steal their s***. They ain’t ready for that bet,” Dak could be heard telling his teammates.

After the session, Prescott credited linebacker Demarvion Overshown for his efforts, who noted that practice was different than last year’s encounter before bringing up the idea of the team doing sprints, which they do after practice.

That’s when things got a little heated, as video footage shwoed Rams Pro Bowler Byron Young exchanging words with the Cowboys players doing sprints.

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“Putting that extra work in? S***, we ain’t doing it with ya’ll,” Young told Cowboys players as the Rams left the practice field.

Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens could be heard telling Rams players to “keep walking and mind their own business. Don’t even look over here,” as a Rams player responded by saying, “Ya’ll need that s***!”

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris also noted Cowboys players told the Rams, “Go ahead and walk back in” as they passed them, and that they would “see y’all down the road.”

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Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford — and one of the early favourites to win the award in 2026 — didn’t get involved in the back and forth, but spoke about the value of holding joint practices.

“We don’t game plan for any of this,” the Rams QB said after practice.

“We just go out there and play, play our rules, see how they hold up. There’s going to be things to learn, things to correct, but it’s a good chance to go compete to see what else is out there. Dallas is a really talented football team. Over the last 12 months, have really accumulated a lot of really good defensive players as well. So, it’s been fun for us to go out there and work against those guys, see something new, and just kind of turn your brain on to something a little bit different. Go out there and compete.

“I love doing these. I enjoyed the work with these guys. Feel like we practiced against Dallas, maybe, every year I’ve been here. Always good work with those guys. So, appreciate it.”

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Cowboys defense takes the day vs Rams

During the practice, Prescott and Pickens connected several times, going up against a Rams defense without recent addition Myles Garrett, who did not practice due to swelling in his knee.

On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys’ defense appeared to hold up well against one of the best offenses in the league last year.

Second-year linebacker Justin Barron was able to lead the way for the pass defense, while Dallas’ new run defense remained stout against the Rams’ backfield of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.

Worryingly for the Rams, though, wide receiver Puka Nacua — ranked by talkSPORT as one of the best in the league — had to exit the session early with the team’s training staff.

Head coach Sean McVay was not sure of the reason for Nacua’s exit when he spoke to the media after the session.

The Rams’ first preseason game is set for Saturday afternoon against the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Cowboys take on the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.