Cowboys promote Jalen Cropper from the practice squad as CeeDee Lamb misses time, adding depth for Week 4 against Green Bay. Cropper, undrafted in 2023 from Fresno State, has appeared once in a game but hasn’t been targeted. With Lamb sidelined, George Pickens is pushed as the top target, while Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin and Ryan Flournoy join the active mix as the depth chart tightens.

Dallas’ extended WR depth also includes rookie Traeshon Holden and Jalen Brooks on the practice squad, and Jonathan Mingo remains out until after Week 4 due to a PCL sprain. The Week 4 game against Green Bay will test how the Cowboys deploy this reshaped pass-catching group and whether Cropper can spark from Day 1.

The Cowboys cut Traeshon Holden and Jalen Brooks at the 53, then mined the practice squad for depth while Jonathan Mingo lands on injured reserve, thinning their WR room even more. Dallas leans Javonte Williams as lead back with Miles Sanders and Jaydon Blue behind him, a trio that may not scare defenses. Bleacher Report floated a bold Jets swap: Jalen Tolbert plus a 2026 fourth for Breece Hall, banking on New York’s three-man backfield and Fields’ rushing upside to justify the capital shift. Tolbert’s 610-yard, 49-catch 2024 shows a spark, but game-day use could hinge on Mingo’s health. Hall tallied 1,139 scrimmage yards and 8 TDs last year, in the final contract year, and the Jets may cash in draft capital if they don’t plan to keep Hall in free agency. The decision trades off one side’s WR depth for the other’s RB firepower, and fantasy rosters will ride that risk graph as the season nears.

Holden and Brooks’ presence suggests Cowboys still value athletic upside over immediate output, while Mingo’s IR opens a path for Tolbert to reclaim a role if he earns snaps. For fantasy, Tolbert could swing into Jets’ WR targets if the trade happens, but Hall would temper his volume in New York unless the backfield shakes out in a way that restores lead work. In any case, the landscape favors players with clear paths to touches and special teams upside, while others pivot on depth chart moves that could alter value by week.

Dallas used No. 12 in the 2025 draft on Alabama guard Tyler Booker, signaling a hard reset toward trench dominance rather than splashy skill positions. Camp and preseason buzz suggest Booker could anchor a revamped line, a theme CBS analyst Mike Renner echoed by predicting Booker’s Alabama teammate Kadyn Proctor lands in Dallas next year to form a formidable tackle duo. The move spots the Cowboys on a bully-by-design path up front, even as questions linger at corner, running back, DT and perhaps WR as the roster takes shape.

With three Round 1 linemen already on the board and a need to balance cap, Dallas faces a rostering puzzle beyond the trench. The overarching bet: protect Dak Prescott and jump-start the run game by building a durable front five. If the plan hits, the Cowboys could lean on a steadier pocket and run lanes, even as fantasy managers weigh WR odds and defensive implications once the offensive line is anchored.

Traeshon Holden cleared waivers and returned to the Cowboys on the practice squad, setting up a potential late-season rise for a 6-3, 205-pound pass-catcher who flashed in camp. The No. 80 chatter began after Holden hinted at a jersey swap from No. 7 to No. 80, a number steeped in Dallas lore but restricted for the regular season. Roster moves ahead of the 53-man deadline underscore how quickly opportunities can shift in Dallas, leaving Holden with a concrete, if narrow, path to an active role via practice-squad elevations or injuries to the WR corps.

For fantasy fans, Holden’s situation is a watch-and-wait scenario. His athletic profile and college production suggest breakout potential if he lands a real look, but the path hinges on injuries, special-teams impact, and how aggressively Dallas uses its younger receivers. The No. 80 storyline adds color but won’t move the needle until he earns targets and game-day snaps.

Dallas trimmed to 53 and instantly replenished depth by waiving two defensive backs, Trikweze Bridges and Reddy Steward, who land on the active roster as Dallas continues to fortify the back end for 2025. The club also shores up its WR group, bringing Traeshon Holden aboard as an UDFA and re-sigining Jalen Brooks to the practice squad, highlighting a mixed approach of upside and special-teams contribution.

Holden and Brooks give Dallas more receiving stock to develop behind the top targets, while Bridges and Steward provide flexibility at corner and safety. The bigger story remains the ongoing practice-squad churn, with coach Brian Schottenheimer weighing depth, special-teams impact, and development as the 53-man mix evolves toward Week 1.