Cowboys News: Mike McCarthy hints at surprise WR shakeup, Kelvin Joseph new position

The Dallas Cowboys are back on the practice field at OTAs. While the intensity leaves something to be desired given no pads are allowed, the installation process -- as Mike McCarthy coined it -- offers some insight into the team's plans for certain players and how they might integrate in the new offense.

With McCarthy taking over play-calling, some players figure to undergo some semblance of a role change. While McCarthy said Thursday that changes will be made, he made sure to note the offense will still be Dak Prescott's language.

While Prescott's role goes without saying, McCarthy shared a surprising wrinkle for one of the quarterback's top pass-catchers.

According to the head coach, Michael Gallup is getting more opportunities in the slot as the Cowboys strive to expand his route tree.

McCarthy added the ability to have a full offseason will help Gallup as he aims to bounce back from a down 2022 following ACL surgery. This comes days after Gallup elaborated on the physical and mental hurdles he had to clear last season just months removed from the operation.

Michael Gallup working in the slot at Cowboys OTAs, Kelvin Joseph playing new position

The big takeaway here, obviously, is Gallup taking snaps inside.

To say the former third-round pick predominantly has been an outside receiver in his career would be an understatement. According to Pro Football Focus, Gallup played 409 snaps out wide in 2022 compared to 35 in the slot. For his career, Gallup has played a whopping 2,226 snaps outside compared to 232 inside.

Most Cowboys fans would agree Gallup needs to expand his route tree -- and become an overall better route-runner -- and moving inside will help keep defenses honest. It'll be interesting to see if Gallup in the slot becomes a theme over the course of the offseason.

An equally surprising development was Kelvin Joseph's new position. Per 105.3 The Fan insider Bobby Belt, Joseph spent most of Thursday's practice working with the safety group. Later on, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News shared that Joseph saw work in the nickel.

It's just the second practice of OTAs so taking everything with a grain of salt, but Joseph seemingly looked comfortable in his new position.

Who knows if Joseph's position change is permanent, but it might give him the best chance at saving his Cowboys career. That's extremely notable given Joseph likely enters OTAs as one of several players on the roster bubble.