Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert gaining crucial developmental reps at OTAs in CeeDee Lamb’s absence, poised to be WR3

FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Cowboys All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who led the NFL with 135 captures in 2023, being absent from organized team activities (OTAs) offers the club a fantastic opportunity to evaluate its wide receiver position, especially important in an offseason in which it released former No. 3 player Michael Gallup.

“Oh, it’s big,” coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday. “I think any time you as a young receiver have an opportunity to get reps, it’s a great opportunity, especially with the first group. So, I mean, you can see both (Jalen Tolbert) and J Brooks [Jalen Brooks]. So these two guys had a really good practice yesterday. I think any time you can get those extra reps, it’s great for young guys. It’s good for our quarterbacks, too.”

Quarterback Dak Prescott, a 2023 second-team All-Pro who led the NFL in passing touchdowns with 36 a year ago, agrees with his head coach and player.

“Ultimately, we’re going to have to rely on one of these guys that’s getting some of the reps that CeeDee would have,” Prescott said Wednesday. “I think that’s the important part for these guys to understand that they are real representatives. … The fact that these young people can come in here, can hear everything, can communicate, can understand what I want on the routes is going to be great. We’re going to need some of those guys.”

One of the guys with the most opportunities in the Cowboys’ youngest wide receiver room is third-year forward Jalen Tolbert. Tolbert, a 2022 third-round pick out of South Alabama, struggled early on as a rookie with just 12 receiving yards on two catches while playing eight games in 2022. Last season, McCarthy’s first as an offensive player for the Cowboys, Tolbert put together a more complete second season: 268 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns on 22 receptions in all 17 games.

“My rookie year, I think I lost almost all of my confidence due to a hamstring injury in OTAs and then I tried to catch up and then just move around and play every position,” Tolbert said Wednesday . “I think I was thinking a lot more than I should have instead of just going out there and having fun, knowing that I belong here, that I’m valuable at this level and I can play really well at this level. now. It’s a 180.”

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who is entering his 11th NFL season in 2024, became a mentor to Tolbert upon his arrival to Dallas last offseason via trade with the Houston Texans. After a year under Cooks’ wing, the vet thinks his youngster could make a leap in production in 2024.

“He’s ready to go,” Cooks said of Tolbert on Wednesday. “Whatever the expectations are for him out there [in 2024], I’m telling you he’s going to kill it. He is ready. I’m looking forward to him having that opportunity. It’s the way he goes to work. I firmly believe that the harder you work, when you have a great work ethic, the more it will be worth it. I think you’ve seen that over the last few years and I think now is the time for him.”

Tolbert went from observing Cooks’ habits and digesting McCarthy’s updated 2023 offensive playbook to being a frequent target of Prescott’s work early and often on 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work during Wednesday’s OTAs.

“Making plays early on in OTAs,” Cooks said when asked to point to an example of Tolbert’s growth. “The way he’s able to talk about a route. The way he’s able to tell the quarterback how he sees things. I think it’s amazing to see him grow in that aspect.”

A much deeper off-field connection between Tolbert and Prescott also served as a impetus for the 25-year-old’s growth. His approach when Prescott seeks him out in any capacity is that of actor Jim Carrey in the 2008 film “Yes Man.” YES.

“Every time he asks to play or do anything like go to him and relax, I’m going to play, I’m there,” Tolbert said. “We talk almost every day. We talked about”MLB The Show”, video games, whatever it is. Having a quarterback that believes in you and is a great person like Dak is kind of taking you under his wing is special. So to know that I have a quarterback like that that believes in me and knowing what I’m capable of doing makes me want to work even harder so I don’t disappoint him too. Having him by my side along with Brandin Cooks is also big for me. I’ll do whatever I can for them.”

The confidence in Tolbert was reflected by both Prescott and Cooks. He went out to dinner with Prescott, Prescott’s girlfriend, Sarah Jane, and their three-month-old daughter, SJ, outside of scheduled team functions.

“The time together, whether it’s talking about baseball games or going to a Mavs game or a Stars game, whatever it is, just that time off the football field, you’re growing and learning more about it,” Tolbert told detail about his and Prescott’s friendship. “As you learn him and he learns me, you understand why a person is, why they are doing this and what they are doing it for. You continue to grow and understand that you are bigger than yourself. so and obviously, Brandin [Cooks] took me under his protection, went there to [his home in] Oregon and working with him, understanding why he does this and hanging out with him and his family every day is special.”

Tolbert doesn’t take these intimate, family moments for granted.

“So that they trust me and take me to those [family] environments and continuing to spend time with me, is special to me,” said Tolbert. “I’m going to do what I can to make sure I live up to my end of the bargain and do it very well. I’m confident in myself. Now I’m just having fun with it.”

Now, his confidence shines through in the Cowboys coaching staff, who have realized his football IQ has reached new heights.

“I would say it’s his confidence; he’s made strides in that area,” McCarthy said of Tolbert. “I think everything that is consistent in this game, the more confident the individual is, their physicality, their urgency, their understanding of the details, the competitiveness increases enormously. , and we spend some extra time together on Sundays off [last year]. He had all the pieces written down, the details from his notes.”

Tolbert relying on his knowledge of McCarthy’s playbook could be the difference in Dallas finishing even more red zone drives, an area of ​​focus in 2024. The Cowboys have converted 40 of their 71 red zone drives into touchdowns in 2023, a rate of 56. .3% which ranked 14th in the NFL. Increasing that rate by appearing as a reliable third-receiver option when defenses swarm Lamb and Cooks is exactly what Dallas needs from Tolbert next season.

“I think I was still learning too [last year],” Tolbert said. “But this year, I kind of have a handle on the plays and things that Coach McCarthy would like. So now I just have to continue to grow and continue to build those nuances that can help me on and off the football field. … My confidence is through the roof and so just going out every day and like I said, doing what I know I can do and having fun with it. That’s an important point, just have fun with what you’re doing and have confidence in what you’re doing. I’m having fun, I’m confident, continuing to grow every day, continuing to build that chemistry with Dak and my teammates as well. Showing my value in this offense.”