There’s been trouble in the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver room for some time. Training camp and preseason started without star player CeeDee Lamb. In the offseason, Michael Gallup joined the Las Vegas Raiders before deciding it best to retire. And recently, Brandin Cooks reported knee soreness during preseason then exited practice on personal business for a few days.
Can we expect an explosive season in receiving yards like last year or are the concerns looming over this offense too great to compensate for?
Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver Room: Will They Thrive This Season?
Cee-Dee Lamb and Soft-Tissue Injuries
Many Cowboys have already suffered from minor soft-tissue issues or other injuries from being back at camp. Lamb missing training camp because of failing contract negotiations causes worry over what will happen when he returns.
Although the coaches and staff have assured the public that there aren’t going to be any concerns with Lamb returning to the team, there’s an underlying one. Lamb hasn’t been hit or played against other football players competitively in over six months.
For many players, it’s those first, initial plays and hits that mean everything. They remind you what you’re made of. And Lamb isn’t receiving those right now during his at-home training. The hope is that he will return healthy and ready to suit up immediately.
Brandin Cooks Exited the Field
During the Cowboys’ second joint practice with the Rams, Cooks walked off to the medical tents and did not return to the field. He reported knee soreness and has been marked as questionable on the injury report from ESPN.
This is concerning because, after Lamb, Cooks is the veteran on the team. He has talked heavily in interviews about what it’s like to work alongside his teammates but has reiterated over and over that he is still capable of carrying the game.
However, if this injury turns into something worse, then it’ll be even more difficult for the Cowboys offense.
Other Cowboys Wide Receivers Preseason Play
During preseason, there’ve been a few reps from other players currently on the unofficial depth chart.
Jalen Tolbert has had a little time on the field. But since he’s expected to be a starter this season, we haven’t seen him play much during preseason. He’s been sitting out with the rest of the ones.
That would leave Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Jalen Brooks, and Kavontae Turpin left to make dynamic plays in preseason.
Turpin has shown up considerably during camp, now becoming one of Prescott’s favorite targets and inviting him out of the restrictive role he has as a returner. Maybe there’s a chance for him to collect more than the 110 receiving yards he had last season.
Moreno-Cropper showed a lot of promise during practice but made numerous failed plays during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He fumbled the ball in his punt return. Because of the strong defense, no points came out of the turnover, but it was the only turnover of the game. Cropper also didn’t complete the one target he had, dropping it.
Brooks also struggled to stand out in the game against the Raiders. He was also only targeted one time, getting an incompletion.
However, two Cowboys wide receivers stood out in the crowded room.
The Future in Flournoy?
Rookie Ryan Flournoy had a strong showing against the Raiders. Flournoy had 4 receptions for 23 yards, his largest gain being a ten-yard play. Although there weren’t any significantly long plays down the field, Flournoy made himself a reliable target for Lance.
Because of injuries, Flournoy didn’t get to participate heavily in training camp at the beginning. Now that he’s here, maybe he can create that key relationship with Prescott and possibly secure a spot on the team. If not, at least he can be on the practice roster, holding out just in case.
Massive Talent in McMath
A player that there hasn’t been much noise about is Racey McMath. McMath played for the Titans for two seasons but didn’t have much success. However, his talent started to show in the game against the Raiders.
He had a phenomenal game, coming up with the most receiving yards from this core. McMath managed 3 receptions for an incredible 54 yards, his longest play being a 30-yarder. Whenever he was targeted, he made the catch, which is a nice option for a QB to have in a wideout.
What’s Next for Cowboys Wide Receivers?
This WR room has room for massive improvement and this final preseason game will be very telling for who will secure a position on the 53-man roster.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
