Cowboys elevate Jalen Cropper with CeeDee Lamb out for Week 4
With Lamb sidelined for an estimated 3 to 4 weeks by a high ankle sprain, Cropper steps into a larger role as Dallas prepares for a matchup with Green Bay and a stretch of road games.
Dallas elevated wide receiver Jalen Cropper from its practice squad to the active roster for Week 4, placing him in line to replace CeeDee Lamb against the Green Bay Packers after Lamb suffered a high ankle sprain in last week’s loss to Chicago. Lamb is expected to miss about 3 to 4 weeks.
Cropper, a Fresno State product, has appeared in one NFL game, taking 12 snaps in last year’s Week 10 loss to the Eagles without recording a catch. With Lamb sidelined, tight end Jake Ferguson and receiver George Pickens are likely to see bigger targets, as the two currently sit first and third on the Cowboys' target list.
Dallas has opened the season with losses to the Eagles and Bears, followed by an overtime win over the Giants, a slate that has tested the team on both sides of the ball and prompted roster moves ahead of Week 4. The defense has faced challenges this season, contributing to the urgency around replacing Lamb’s production with additional receiving options.
The Cowboys will host the Packers in Week 4 before traveling to face the Jets in East Rutherford and the Panthers in Carolina. Cropper’s opportunity will grow if he can prove reliable as a replacement for Lamb, who is sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Dallas also expects Ferguson and Pickens to carry increased workloads as the offense adjusts to life without its top receiver.
Cropper's role could expand in the coming weeks if he takes advantage of this chance, offering Dallas a complementary dimension in the passing game while Lamb recovers. The team will monitor his development as it navigates a schedule that includes more road tests and contingency plans at the receiver position.