Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) has not fully overcome a psychological roadblock. Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys WR Michael Gallup on potential return: 'It's just mental now'

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 9/30/22

The Cowboys offense needs a fizz, wide receiver Michael Gallup can provide it, he looks like he is recovered from his torn left ACL, but he has not fully overcome a psychological roadblock.

Gallup told ESPN's Todd Archer, "You know you're healthy, everything's good. It's just mental now. You've got to make sure you feel like your old self, so getting to that, (is) the hardest part."

Michael Gallup hopes to play Sunday but he wants to go through the week to see how his left knee and mind feels. “You know you’re healthy, everything’s good. It’s just mental now. You’ve got to make sure you feel like your old self, so getting to that, that’s the hardest part.”
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 28, 2022

Hearing a player who is battling a hurdle like this, is concerning. It indicates that their confidence is shaken. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy does want him to play, but he's cautiously approaching the situation.

Cowboys head coach and @1053SS & @rjchoppy's new best friend Mike McCarthy joins the show to talk how he's been dealing with Michael Gallup's mental hurdles after being medically cleared from his ACL injury. Watch the full interview on our website!⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/LXHN6UrdTK pic.twitter.com/5X6dYnHtqX
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) September 30, 2022

"In my mind he hasn't been cleared yet," McCarthy said Friday on KRLD-FM. "It was good to get out yesterday and get some full speed live action, he looked good."

Participation in practice isn't a telltale sign that Gallup will return. He was a full participant in practice last week, and still didn't play against the Giants. He feels he needs more time.

"I think I just needed a couple more reps," Gallup said in a Wednesday news conference. "I've only been in pads twice. Everybody else had a whole training camp and everything like that, so I just needed to feel a couple more things out."

Gallup will practice on Friday, his comfortability will likely determine if he plays Sunday.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has faith in Gallup and believes he'll push through this obstacle.

"As I sit here, I think (he'll) play," Jones told KRLD-FM on Friday.

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