Beloved Cowboys preseason star will finally make his debut in Week 5

The Dallas Cowboys seemingly can't be bothered to upgrade the roster. Even though star wide receiver Davante Adams is available for trade, the Cowboys continue to cry poverty, preach confidence in their guys and underline the importance of next year's draft capital.

Much to the chagrin of fans, Dallas won't be trading for Adams. It even remains to be seen if they're willing to wheel and deal to improve other positions like edge rusher, nose tackle and running back.

With DeMarcus Lawrence on injured reserve and Micah Parsons week-to-week with an ankle sprain, the Cowboys have only added second-year pro K.J. Henry off the Bengals' practice squad. They trust the likes of Marshawn Kneeland and Chauncey Golston to fill the void.

It's an arrogant perspective, but that is nothing new. There are only so many depth options and practice squad players who can step in and make a profound impact. One of them will finally get a shot to prove himself when Dallas takes the field against the Steelers on Sunday night.

Cowboys rookie WR Ryan Flournoy to make his debut in Week 5

With Brandin Cooks shelved for this week and potentially longer with a knee infection from a meniscus scope, rookie Ryan Flournoy is the next man up. A healthy scratch for the first four games, Flournoy has been itching to play since he shined in preseason.

At first glance, seven catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns doesn't seem like much. However, Flournoy passed the eye test.

The sixth-round pick was the only Cowboys receiver to catch a touchdown in preseason and he dusted Raiders starting cornerback Jack Jones on his first-ever score. On the second, Flournoy displayed great concentration and footwork in the back corner of the end zone.

With Dallas' offense starved for another playmaker, Cowboys fans have been champing at the bit to see Flournoy. It remains to be seen if he's ready to contribute, but nobody else has stepped up to the challenge.

Cooks has less than 100 receiving yards in four games. Jalen Tolbert has actually produced a 124.6 passer rating when targeted, which is the eighth-highest in the NFL among receivers with at least 17 targets, per Pro Football Focus, but he needs to be more consistent. Finally, Jalen Brooks lost fans' trust with his poor showing in Week 3.

Flournoy is still raw and learning the nitty gritty of the NFL game, but it is long overdue that he's getting a shot. He's a freakish athlete and his ability to win in one-on-one situations and overwhelm defenders with his physicality will at the very least bring a different dynamic to the offense.

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