The Dallas Cowboys head into their Week 5 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers facing significant challenges.
Not only are they hitting the road for a second consecutive week, but they’ll also be without several key starters on both sides of the ball.
Injuries have left the Cowboys short-handed, meaning the entire team, as well as a few individuals, will need to elevate their performance if they hope to leave with a win.
Today, we’ll highlight some key players for the Cowboys who need to step up in this crucial matchup.
With Brandin Cooks out for this Week 5 game, Jalen Tolbert will take over as the Cowboys’ WR2.
Tolbert has flashed potential as a legitimate passing threat, but consistency has been lacking.
This week provides him with a prime opportunity to prove he’s taken the Year 3 leap many expected heading into the 2024 season.
He’ll likely be targeted more frequently, giving him a chance to show that he can be a reliable option in the passing game against the Steelers.
Due to injuries on both offense and defense, the Cowboys must control time of possession to give themselves a fighting chance.
That means their struggling rushing attack, one of the worst in the league so far, needs to come to life.
Rico Dowdle has been the most impressive of the group, but even he will need to step up his game this week.
It won’t be easy against a Steelers defense allowing only 93 rushing yards per game and just 3.7 yards per carry.
On the defensive side, someone will need to step up at defensive end with both Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence out.
Marshawn Kneeland and Carl Lawson appear to be the “next men up.” Neither player has recorded a sack this season, which is reflective of the Cowboys’ overall struggles in pressuring the quarterback through the first four games.
However, considering Steelers QB Justin Fields has already been sacked 10 times this season, Kneeland and Lawson have a golden opportunity to change that narrative.
