The Dallas Cowboys had a huge game against the Detroit Lions in Week 14. Although they dropped this primetime contest in a jam-packed NFC, they saw a breakout star emerge in this game, and it was receiver Ryan Flournoy.
Early in the third quarter, Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb exited the game with a concussion, and that left a void in the receiver room. However, Flournoy took full advantage and became a go-to option for Dak Prescott. While this is a great development for him and the offense, it’s terrible news for Jalen Tolbert.
Ryan Flournoy’s Week 14 Outing Is Bad News for Jalen Tolbert
Tolbert was a healthy scratch in Thursday night’s game, showing how the coaching staff felt about him heading into Week 14. And what Flournoy put on the field made it clear that it was the right choice.
In the loss to the Lions, the 26-year-old had a team-high nine catches for 115 receiving yards and a touchdown. He also saw a team-best 13 targets, making the best of the passes thrown his way.
Once Lamb was ruled out with a concussion, it was obvious that Flournoy was the go-to option in the aerial attack against this Lions’ secondary. Not George Pickens, and that’s certainly a big statement considering how well Pickens has played this season.
Going into this game, the SE Missouri product had 234 receiving yards, with 114 yards coming against the New York Jets on Oct. 5. The rest of the year has been quiet on that front, but when the lights were bright on the national stage, he played lights out.
The Cowboys know that Lamb and Pickens are their 1-2 punch in the receiver room, but the WR3 is up for grabs on this team. Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin are the other two guys who could be fighting for that spot, but that conversation may be done, especially for Tolbert.
In 11 games this season, Tolbert has compiled 14 catches for 172 receiving yards and one score. Not only are these numbers underwhelming, but he hasn’t recorded a catch in his last three games.
At this point, you can see the Cowboys letting him walk in free agency, as he hasn’t shown much during his Cowboys career. Meanwhile, Flournoy made the most of his opportunity in Week 14 and could be a viable option for them in the passing attack.
If Lamb misses time with his concussion, there will be more reps up for grabs. This will be something to watch for heading into Week 15, but Flournoy’s Week 14 outing was great for him and terrible for Tolbert’s future in Dallas.
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