The Dallas Cowboys have two players returning to the lineup this week, as wide receiver Michael Gallup was activated from the injured reserve and defensive tackle Trysten Hill was activated from the physically unable to perform list.
Gallup will retake the field for the first time since he suffered a calf strain during the season opener in Tampa Bay. Hill will be making his 2021 debut on Sunday after tearing his ACL in Week 5 of last year.
Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (calf) is being activated from injured reserve. Sunday vs. Falcons his first game since straining calf in Week 1. DT Trysten Hill being activated from Physically Unable to Perform List. His season debut after tearing ACL vs. Giants on Oct. 11, 2020.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) November 13, 2021
Somewhat of an unsung hero on this star-studded Dallas offense, the Cowboys need Gallup on the field to reach their full capabilities.
The former Colorado State Ram has a skillset that compliments his fellow wide receivers extremely well, and he remains a critical piece in helping the Cowboys’ passing attack exploit mismatches and create big plays.
Over the last two years Gallup racked up 1,950 yards and 11 touchdowns, while averaging over 15 yards a catch. Time and time again Gallup has showcased his impressive contested catch skills, often at crucial moments in the game. Our own Todd Brock elaborated on Gallup’s anticipated return and his downfield prowess, noting that seven of his 13 career touchdowns are from outside the red zone.
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore spoke with excitement about Gallup’s return, telling the media, “He’s going to do some awesome things for us; we’re excited.”
Receivers Noah Brown, and especially Cedrick Wilson, helped bridge the gap while Gallup’s calf healed. Wilson played a career high 82% of snaps in last weeks lost to Denver. Over the last seven games Wilson, a former high school quarterback, went 2 for 2 for 57 yards passing, and had 16 catches for 256 yards and three touchdowns.
As solid as Wilson has been, what Gallup brings to the table in his ability to attack the catch point has been sorely missed despite the Cowboys’ top-tier offensive performance.
Hill tore his ACL the same 2020 game Dak Prescott injured his ankle, and will be suiting up for the first time this year.
The former second-round pick showed flashes of improvement in his shortened 2020 season, with 11 tackles and three quarterback hits in five starts. His return is timely, as he looks to help to bolster a defensive interior that has lost both Neville Gallimore (elbow) and Brent Urban (triceps) to IR. Hill joins promising third-round rookie Osa Odighizuwa, veteran Carlos Watkins, Justin Hamilton, and sixth-round rookie Quinton Bohanna as the available defensive tackles.
Both Gallimore and Urban are set to return, but Hill now has an opportunity to regain a role at defensive tackle that he once had and help the defense get back on track after arguably their worst performance of the year.
The Cowboys allowed a season high 190 rushing yards last week vs Denver, 70 more yards than their previous season high. Rushing defense was the Achilles heel for Dallas a year ago, and it will be paramount that the Cowboys correct last week’s issues and get back to the sound defense they played earlier in the year.
Finally some good news for the Cowboys, who took a serious blow earlier this week losing defensive end Randy Gregory to the short-term IR.