Brian Schottenheimer Praises Malachi Lawrence’s Recent Pass-Rush Growth

FRISCO, Texas — Malachi Lawrence has had some of his best pass rushes of camp over the past week to 10 days, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday, going back through the Seattle and Arizona games and a stretch of Dallas Cowboys practices.

Lawrence does not get the chance to show up the way a defensive back can, because the rush is pulling off red jerseys rather than finishing sacks.

“He doesn’t get an opportunity because we’re not sacking people and things like that to maybe show up like a Caleb Downs does. He’s pulling off red jerseys and things like that,” Schottenheimer said. “But generally when you see guys playing less in the preseason, it means that, I’m talking about game one to game two, that we’ve seen enough and we’re excited about what we see. I think he’s had some of his best pass rushes in the past week to ten days. I’m going back to probably Seattle through Arizona and a couple of our practices.”

What The Dallas Cowboys Wanted From Malachi Lawrence In Arizona

Lawrence made 3 tackles in his Cowboys debut at Seattle.

“We knew it would be maybe not longer than Caleb or anybody else, but UCF’s a little different program and not some of the same things are afforded to them, maybe, that resources and things, but he’s been awesome,” Schottenheimer continued. “One of the big things we wanted to see him do last week was on special teams against Arizona. I thought he did a really nice job because special teams is going to be a big part of all the guys on the roster because we want to be a dominant special teams unit.”

Where Malachi Lawrence Fits On The Edge

Dallas took Lawrence at No. 23 overall in April, the second of two first-round picks. The Cowboys traded back three spots from No. 20 and picked up two fourth-round selections in the move. He wears No. 57.

Dallas rebuilt the position after trading Micah Parsons. Rashan Gary arrived from Green Bay in a March trade and Von Miller signed a one-year deal this month. Donovan Ezeiruaku is coming off a rookie season of 2.0 sacks over nine starts and 604 defensive snaps.

Pro Football Focus graded his 2025 pass rush at UCF at 89.5. Demeitre Brim, who coached Lawrence with the Knights, is now on the Dallas staff.

Dallas held seven picks in April and used five of them on defense. The Cowboys took Alabama edge rusher LT Overton in the fourth round at No. 137 and Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham in the third at No. 92, on a pick acquired from San Francisco in the Osa Odighizuwa trade.

Christian Parker replaced Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator and moved the Cowboys to a 3-4 alignment. Dallas allowed 511 points in 2025, 30.1 per game, the most in the NFL. Through two preseason games the defense has allowed 7 points and 13.

Dallas traded for Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams to rebuild the interior. Clark played 748 defensive snaps last season, more than any other Cowboys lineman. Dallas sat 29 players in the Arizona win and is 2-0 this preseason. The Cowboys have to move 37 players off the 90-man roster by Sunday.

Dallas spent the first three weeks of camp at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California, and returned to The Star on Aug. 24. Tuesday and Wednesday nights were the last two practices of the summer.

Friday’s preseason finale against New Orleans kicks off at 7 p.m. CT at AT&T Stadium and airs on CBS locally. Rosters must be at 53 players by 5 p.m. CT Sunday, Aug. 30. The Cowboys open the regular season Sunday, Sept. 13, at the New York Giants at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.