The Dallas Cowboys will head to Western New York to face off against the Buffalo Bills. Sunday’s game has significant playoff implications for both teams, with Dallas fighting for the NFC East and Buffalo a loss away from falling back into the stampede of mediocre AFC teams.
The Cowboys, unsurprisingly, won’t be playing with receiver Martavis Bryant in Week 15. He remains on the practice squad after returning to football after a half-decade and is viewed as more of a long-term project than a reinforcement for a playoff push.
Even so, the coaching staff has kept an eye on his progress. Head coach Mike McCarthy spoke about the veteran receiver on Friday.
“I really like him. He’s done a really, really good job coming in here, fitting in here,” McCarthy said. “I think just like anybody that’s been away from the game for the amount of time he has, there definitely was a conditioning hurdle to get over. He has lost a little weight. I think he has shown more and more with each opportunity.”
With recent improvements from Dallas’ ancillary targets like Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup, there’s less pressure for an accelerated ramp-up for Bryant. Gallup caught a touchdown in Week 14’s win, while Cooks has surpassed 40 yards five times since the Week 7 bye – a mark he failed to hit prior.
The offense is cooking with gas at the right time, allowing Bryant to get acclimated with a Cowboys culture that has seemingly welcomed him with open arms.
“Excellent personality,” McCarthy said. “He’s just trying to do everything right. I have a lot of respect for the way he has come in here.”
Don’t expect to see Bryant grace the gridiron in Week 15, but that isn’t necessarily a sign of things to come. With the bottom of the roster bound to churn and Gallup falling short of season-long expectations, Bryant has a legitimate shot to make the team next season.
Kickoff for Sunday’s action is at 3:25 p.m. (CT) on FOX.
More must-reads: