No CeeDee Lamb, no problem.
The Dallas Cowboys hardly skipped a beat without their All-Pro receiver last week as Ryan Flournoy stepped into the picture in a 37-22 beatdown of the New York Jets.
Flournoy, a 2024 sixth-round pick from SE Missouri State, had six catches for a team-leading 114 yards in the absence of Lamb. The big performance earned him praise from teammates like George Pickens.
âItâs just something heâs been grinding for for a long time,â said Pickens, who added two catches for 57 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown. âJust getting an opportunity, and now him exploiting it ⦠heâs been working the whole time.â
And because of it, the Cowboys surpassed 30 points for the third time in four games and improved their record to 2-2-1.
Flournoy Draws Comparisons to Former Cowboys Star
Flournoy was a surprisingly big part of the Cowboysâ passing attack. The second-year receiver tied tight end Jake Ferguson with a team-high nine targets. He had 104 yards in the first half alone, surpassing his 11-game total from his rookie season (10 catches, 102 yards).
Given his ability to stretch the field and make contested catches, Flournoy quickly drew comparisons to a former Cowboys star who also came through the FCS ranks: Miles Austin.
âHeâs really shown at times his just sheer natural instincts, and boy did they show up real good on a couple of those plays,â Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan. âBut heâs a receiver that his unique skills of just something you canât coach, itâs been there. And, of course, heâs got great size, and this will do wonders for him. Itâll do wonders for the confidence of everybody around him. It was good to see, and we needed it. Heâs a great addition to what our options are out there at receiver.â
Asked about the Austin comparison, Flournoy revealed itâs one of the reasons he wears No. 19.
âI knew he wore 19,â Flournoy said. âThe reason I got 19 was because of Miles Austin and Amari Cooper. I just felt like I play like them â big, fast and just finesse.â
Flournoy Earns High Marks From PFF
The Cowboys werenât the only ones bullish of Flournoyâs performance. In fact, Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave Flournoy the second-highest grade (90.8) of any receiver in Week 5, not including Mondayâs game.
Flournoy had 48 yards after the catch, and five of his six receptions went for first downs.
Itâs been an impressive rise for the former FCS product, who was waived by Dallas in August and played exclusively on special teams in Week 1.
Lamb Expected Back From Injury Soon
Cowboys co-owner and executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday on 105.3 The Fan that Lamb is one of several injured players expected back within the next two weeks. Lamb has missed two straight games as he deals with a high-ankle sprain. The four-time Pro Bowler has 16 catches for 222 yards this season.
Also in that group is fellow receiver KaVontae Turpin, who was sidelined last week with a foot sprain.
The Cowboys visit the Carolina Panthers in Week 6.
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