The Dallas Cowboys enter Week 5 looking to build off the outstanding offensive effort turned in by Dak Prescott against the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, Dallas will have to do that against the New York Jets without two key members of the wide receiver room.
With CeeDee Lamb and KaVonte Turpin both officially ruled out for Sunday's tilt against the Jets, the Cowboys are forced to look further down the depth chart for potential contributors. That has opened the door for 2024 draft pick Ryan Flournoy to become a piece of the puzzle on offense, and his involvement in the game plan should only be amplified this Sunday, thanks to the injury issues that continue to impact the roster in Dallas.
Cowboys WR Ryan Flournoy Has Big Opportunity With Turpin Sidelined
Flournoy, a sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft out of Southeast Missouri State University, has seen action in the last two games for the Cowboys. That being said, the role he was asked to fill against the Chicago Bears and Packers did not come with the same amount of pressure that the wideout will face this Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Much like he did against Green Bay, George Pickens will serve as WR1 for Dallas in Week 5. With Turpin sidelined as well, though, Flournoy is going to be forced into a larger role and will need to perform if the Cowboys are going to pick up a victory in a game they absolutely must win if Dallas has any intentions of making a playoff push in 2025.
One of the things that Turpin is known best for is his elite speed. While Flournoy does not possess that level of athleticism, he is no slouch when it comes to his ability to blow by a defender. Standing just shy of 6'1" with a 4.4 40-yard dash time in his back pocket, Flournoy has all the physical tools needed to make an impact on a game. Whether those tools translate into meaningful production is a different conversation, though.
There isn't much of a track record of success for Flournoy at the NFL level. In 15 appearances for Dallas, the 25-year-old has 14 receptions for 137 yards and no touchdowns. One thing working in his favor, though, is the fact that Flournoy has reliable hands. Of the 19 targets he's had come his way since entering the NFL, the wideout has a catch percentage of just under 74%.
That combination of size, speed, and reliable hands will be something that Flournoy needs to put on display against New York. The Cowboys must strike fast on offense, and the defense must force Justin Fields into mistakes early and often. If there were ever a game for Dallas to get off to a shot start and take the will to fight out of an opponent in the early going, it would be this weekend, as a 1-3-1 record would only put the Cowboys further behind the 8-ball.