Cowboys vs. Eagles: A sleeper at wide receiver to watch
This Dallas Cowboys receiver could get extra targets on Sunday
The Dallas Cowboys have been ravaged by injuries. But the one area that has remained relatively healthy has been the wide receiver corps. But one NFL insider believes an ailment one wideout has been dealing with this week could turn into more opportunities for another.
Receiver Michael Gallup turned up on the Cowboys’ injury report with a hip issue. Despite the injury, Gallup was able to be a full participant in practice sessions this week. Yet, if he is limited in any way on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, one former NFL executive believes another rising candidate will emerge to gain those extra targets.
Here’s what former Washington and Houston general manager turned NFL.com Analyst Charley Casserly wrote on the league’s official website about one Dallas receiver who could have a bigger role against the Eagles on Sunday.
"“If Gallup can’t go or is at all limited, [Noah] Brown could get the nod … The Cowboys have used him a number of times on slant routes, in which he showed toughness catching the ball inside. He’ll be used as a short-to-intermediate receiver who does not pose a major threat to the defense.”"
A seventh-round selection by the Cowboys back in 2017 out of Ohio State, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Noah Brown has been used primarily as a run-blocker during his career in Dallas. But Brown is also coming off a career-high six targets from quarterback Andy Dalton last week.
Unfortunately, the fourth-year wideout was only able to haul in one catch for 13 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15. Brown did have the first rushing attempt in the NFL versus the Niners, registering four yards on one carry.
Still just 24-years old, Brown is the only remaining member of the Cowboys’ 2017 draft class that plays on the offensive side of the ball. The others include cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis, plus safety Xavier Woods. All four are scheduled to become free agents in 2021.
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Over the past four years, Brown has started a total of four games for the Cowboys. He’s recorded a total of 23 receptions for 241 yards and has yet to score a touchdown in the NFL.
As of now, it appears that Michael Gallup will be a full-go on Sunday in AT&T Stadium to face their divisional foes, the Philadelphia Eagles. But Andy Dalton does appear to have a connection with Noah Brown and could look to lean into that partnership more against Philly.