Dallas Cowboys: 6 winners from the cancelling of preseason games

Cedrick Wilson, Devin Smith (wide receivers)

All of Cowboys Nation was thrilled with the drafting of CeeDee Lamb in the first round of this year’s draft. In fact, he’s already been penciled in as a starter alongside Pro Bowler Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup.

But there was widely expected to be a hard-fought battle for the remaining roster spots on the receiving corps. There are currently no less than 12 receivers on the Dallas roster. They usually keep no more than six.

But now, this battle looks to be defanged and it’s already happening. Reserve receiver Jon’Vea Johnson recently tested positive for coronavirus and was placed on the newly-created reserve/Covid19 list, according to Clarence Hill at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  And Stephen Guidry, another reserve, has decided to opt out of the football season entirely, according to Hill, again at the Star-Telegram.

There are other competitors at the receiver position to be sure. But Wilson and Smith are the only ones with actual experience on the team. Wilson hasn’t made much of an impression after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 draft. But Smith had a very good game in week three of last year against the Washington football team. He caught three passes for 74 yards, including a spectacular 51-yard touchdown reception.

Perhaps more importantly, though, both know the playbook, and have actually participated in Cowboys games. The rest of the down-roster receivers don’t have that advantage. That may be all the advantage either one needs in the now-depleted 2020 preseason-less training camp.